WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
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FARMERS PRAISED FOR DOING WELL
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THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO LOCAL FARMERS FOR THEIR GOOD PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR DESPITE KEEN COMPETITION FROM IMPORTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
DR LEE SAID +HONG KONG FARMERS ARE REPUTED FOR THEIR DILIGENCE, ENDURANCE AND ADAPTABILITY. WITH THESE GOOD QUALITIES, THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN GENERAL PERFORMED QUITE WELL LAST YEAR DESPITE STRONG COMPETITION FROM IMPORT PRODUCTS.+
ADDRESSING FARMER LEADERS AT A SPRING LUNCH HOSTED BY HIM. DR LEE SAID THAT DURING THE PERIOD, LOCAL FARMERS PRODUCED 158 000 TONNES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, 17 MILLION HEAD OF LIVE POULTRY AND 570 000 HEAD OF LIVE PIGS, VALUED AT OVER $1 BILLION.
THE LOCALLY-PRODUCED FOOD IS GENERALLY OF A HIGHER QUALITY THAN THOSE IMPORTED.
THEY REPRESENTED ABOUT 34 PER CENT OF THE FRESH VEGETABLES, 44 PER CENT OF THE LIVE POULTRY AND 17 PER CENT OF LIVE PIGS CONSUMED LOCALLY LAST YEAR.
+ IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT DURING THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A RENEWED PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE LOCAL PRIMARY PRODUCTION INDUSTRIES.
+IN THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, Į STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN COUNT ON THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF ALL CONCERNED TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY,+ DR LEE SAID.
TODAY'S LUNCH WAS ATTENDED BY SOME 100 RURAL AND FARMER LEADERS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. AMONG THEM WERE THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR JOHN YAXLEY, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY, NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES.
DUNN TO ATTEND EASTERN DB MEETING
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THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, WILL ATTEND THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
SHE WILL EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH MEMBERS ON VARIOUS MATTERS CONCERNING GOVERNMENT.
DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER WHETHER AN EASTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL SHOULD BE HELD IN 1987-88.
/BEFORE THE