CO129-611-5 Development Secretariat- appointment of registrar of Co-operatives 10-3-1947 - 10-3-1948 — Page 70

Inom toth Stenklais. Hong Kong. Copy

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OUTLINES OF BROAD POLICY OF THE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT

Ever since the Fisheries Department commenced its activities in the first week of September 1945, it was clearly recognised by Government that two bodies existed. 1. A Fisheries Department with staff paid by Government and 2. A Fisheries Co-operative Society with staff paid by the Co-operative. The paid staffs of each of these are stated below.

Fisheries Department

Fisheries Co-operative

Totals

October 1945

17

147

164

October 1946

19

248

267

The functions of any Fisheries Department may be

reviewed under three heads:

1.

2.

3.

ORGANIZATION (Administrative).

Marketing, transport, district organizations, social welfare (schools, discussion groups), co-operation, banking, loans.

PROCESSING (Technical-research and commerce)

Ice factory, cold storage, canning, smoking, etc.

VESSELS AND GEAR (Technical-research leading to

expansion)

Building, replacement of war losses, first steps mechanisation.

1. ORGANIZATION.

Up to the present the entire staff of the Fisheries Department has been concerned with the first head, and the success that has been achieved has been borne largely at the expense of the fishing community which has paid for its own organization. entire present small staff of 19, which includes one British officer, is required for this first field of activity.

The

for

The immediate post-war problems have been solved; the first time in the history of Hong Kong the fishermen are receiving the money for the fish which they catch; but the work of the Department cannot stop here. Development and progress are essential if the Department is to fulfil its purpose.

2. PROCESSING.

No development can take place without additional staff and capital. The logical sequence of development is somewhat as follows:

1.

This Government is now investigating the possibility of purchasing and erecting an ice plant with a maximum daily output of 50 tons. The cost of operation of this plant would be met by the Fisheries Co-operative and not by Government.

2.

Preliminary research must next be carried out in canning, smoking, fish meal and the preparation of bye products e. g. shark liver oil, and later in brine freezing. It is considered that such research, in which pilot plant are employed, should be undertaken at Government expense, When preliminary

/work

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