WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987
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SUPPORT FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES URGED
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THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE STRONG SUPPORT TO PRIMARY INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG.
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON PRIMARY INDUSTRIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHOW A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND MAKE MORE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN BUILDING AND PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.
+ONLY BY DOING SO, CAN LOCAL PRIMARY INDUSTRIES BE CLOSELY LINKED WITH OUR LIVELIHOOD AND ECONOMY, AND CONTINUE TO MAKE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS ENHANCING THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG SAID CURRENTLY THERE WERE ABOUT 14 000 FAMILIES OR ABOUT 58 000 PERSONS STILL ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG.
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE LIVELIHOOD OF ABOUT 200 000 TO 300 000 PEOPLE DEPENDED ON PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, HE SAID.
WITH REGARD TO ECONOMIC BENEFITS, MR CHEUNG SAID THE TOTAL PRODUCTS FROM AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WERE VALUED AT $3 000 MILLION, WHICH DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTED POSITIVELY TO THE "ECONOMIC GROWTH OF HONG KONG.
BESIDES, AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING INDUSTRIES PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN HELPING HONG KONG MAINTAIN A BASIC DEGREE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY, HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT EXCESSIVE RELIANCE ON THE IMPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WOULD LEAD TO THE STIFLING AND DECLINE OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING INDUSTRIES.
+SHOULD LE NEED THEIR SUPPORT AT OTHER TIMES, WE MAY FIND IT HARD TO REORGANISE AND INVIGORATE THEM TO COPE WITH THE CHANGING DEMANDS,+ HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG CONSIDERED THAT A FAR-SIGHTED GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMULATE A GOOD POLICY ON +FOOD+, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FOUR MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE.
+ALL ALONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN GREAT FORESIGHT IN THE PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY AND HAS MANAGED TO OVERCOME ALL DIFFICULTIES IN THIS REGARD.
+RESERVIORS ARE BUILT SO THAT THE TERRITORY CAN BE
SELF-SUFFICIENT IN WATER SUPPLY.
+IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN APPLY SUCH PERSEVERING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP THE PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, GREAT PROGRESS WILL SURELY BE MADE VERY SOON,+ HE SAID.
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