CO129-617-6 Development- recommendations of Hong Kong Colonial Development and Welfare Committee 18-7-1947 - 23-12-1947 — Page 27

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The first step in the planning necessary to meet these problems has been taken in the establishment of an organisation which will eventually become a self-contained and self-sufficient Fisheries Co-operative. In the two years in which this organisation has been in existence it has saved enough capital to purchase its own fleet of lorries, to erect a wholesale market in the New Territories and to finance the inauguration and maintenance of schools for nearly 2000 children of the fisherfolk. Its paid staff number 280 as compared with 20 of the Fisheries Department.

This is subject of

a separdé letter fi convidandtion f

Colonist Development Compordion

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Development is planned on these lines:

(a) Improvement of handling, transport-and marketing facilities and of social services to increase stability of the fishing industry.

(b) Modernization of fleet and gear, including partial mechanization, to meet competition in the Far East, to increase supplies and to reduce cost to public.

(c) Erection of a modern plant for processing fish for export to newmarkets to ensure steady income to fisherfolk.

(d) Extension of the pond fisheries of the New Territories to increase fresh fish supplies for local consumption.

It is recommended that expenditure on the first two heads be proceeded with immediately and, under the fourth head, that a small sum be set aside for expert investigation of the pond fisheries preparatory to their expansion. If this expenditure can be carried out in the next two years as planned, the capital resources and income of the Fisheries Co-operative will be greatly increased and it is therefore possible that much of the further development that is envisaged can be financed from loans or from the resources of the industry.

Party Victoria I

KENNEDY TOWN-

IMPROVEMENT OF LANDING FACILITIES.

A Fisheries Wholesale Market has been establish eċ on Hong Kong island since September, 1945. Fish is brought to this market by lorry from Shaukiwan and Aberdeen and by fish-tender from Cheung Chau island and Tai O on Lan Tau Island. The Fisheries Department has now five fish- tenders of which four visit this market daily. With the installation of diesel power into the larger junks, more and more of these vessels will deliver their fish direct to the market. Already two vessels have been equipped with diesel engines financed by the Co-operative. Facilities for landing of fish both from fish-tenders and from large junks quite inadequate. The problem has been referred to an expert in the P.W.D. and his proposal is that four dolphins be constructed to project from the quay opposite the market.

Recommendation No. 9

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£10,000

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