CO129-626-12 Fisheries 1-2-1950 - 31-3-1951 — Page 17

ひん

thus be more productive and profitable.

This will

be of great importance to Hong Kong in regularizing

17

the supply of fresh fish, prices of which, due to the

very high

uncertainty of supply, are at the moment

scarcity

lével. The scheme would also undoubtedly improve the

lot of the fishing community. It is proposed, therefore,

to set up a committee of local naval architects and

shipbuilders, on which both Europeans and Chinese would

This

be represented, whose task it would be to work out the

design of a vessel suitable for local conditions and

incorporating the necessary accommodation for the fisher-

man and his family; the design should also conform as far

as possible with Chinese methods of construction. Upon

such a craft being designed and tested at the National

Physical Laboratory, Teddington, it is proposed to build

two experimental vessels in accordance with the approved

design, but probably differing in certain details.

These, when constructed, would be operated by the

Fisheries Department, for demonstration purposes.

would complete the first stage of the scheme. It is

estimated that the cost of the two vessels would be in

the region of £17,500. It would be necessary to engage

a first class draughtsman to prepare the designs and

his salary, together with the cost of constructing models

and testing them at Teddington, is estimated to total

£2,500. The second stage of the scheme, about which it

is proposed to submit another memorandum when the worth

of the experimental vessels has been properly

demonstrated, will consist of selling the two vessels

to cover part of the cost of their construction, and to

establish a revolving fund out of which to supply loans

to fishermen to assist them in recovering the cost of

building boats of the new type for their own use.

6.

The Governor has therefore applied for a

>

grant of £20,000 from the Hong Kong allocation under the

/Colonial