XN000022-1980-03-19 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1980

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THE NET-HOUSE IS PRIMARILY BUILT FOR PROTECTION OF CROPS UNDER UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAINSTORM, TROPICAL STORM, FROST AND NOW HAILSTORM. OTHER USES INCLUDE SCREENING OF BIRDS, CERTAIN INSECT PESTS AND INSECT-BORNE DISEASES.

MISS SO ADDED THAT THE STRUCTURE WAS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WAS SIMPLE TO BUILD AND AT THE SAME TIME COULD WITHSTAND CONSIDERABLE WIND SPEEDS.

THE SIZE OF NET-HOUSES COULD VARY ACCORDING TO THE NEED AND USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL FARMERS. THE MOST ECONOMICAL SIZE WOULD BE ONE DAU CHUNG (ABOUT 674 SQ. METRES)- THE COST FOR MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH A NET-HOUSE BEING ABOUT $12 000. SMALLER SIZES (ABOUT 93 SQ. METRES) ARE CHEAPER AND SPECIALLY GOOD FOR PROTECTING DELICATE SEEDLINGS WHILE LARGER ONES COULD ALSO BE USED FOR PROTECTING MATURE CROPS UNTIL THEY ARE GOOD FOR HARVEST.

MISS SO HOPED THAT THE LOWER BUILDING COST OF THE SMALLER UNITS (ABOUT $2.000 FOR 93 SQ. METRES) WOULD ATTRACT MORE FARMERS TO ADOPT THE USE OF NET-HOUSES FOR PROTECTION OF THEIR CROPS. SUCH A UNIT IS MOUNTED IN SHEUNG SHUI GOVERNMENT FARM AND FARMERS ARE WELCOME TO INSPECT THE STRUCTURE.

THE NET-HOUSE TECHNIQUE IS ALREADY ADOPTED BY SEVERAL FARMERS IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, IN SAN TIN, KAM TIN AND SAP PAT HEUNG. LAST YEAR, $25 000 IN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FROM THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION WERE GIVEN TO FARMERS FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR FIELDS. FURTHER GRANTS WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO WISH TO CONSTRUCT THE IR OWN NET-HOUSES.

MISS SO URGED FARMERS TO MAKE MORE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT WHICH PROTECTS CROPS FROM BAD WEATHER AND SAFEGUARDS FARM

INCOME. +BUILD NOW BEFORE THE STORMS COME, SHE TOLD THEM.

MORE STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS BECOMING AVAILABLE

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THREE STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS WERE PUT ON SALE BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY. THEY ARE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, JANUARY 1980+, +HONG KONG ECONOMIC TRENDS, JANUARY 1980+ AND +AN OUTLINE OF STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT 1980+.

ELEVEN MORE OFFSET PRINTED PUBLICATIONS COMPILED BY THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE MONTHLY CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOVEMENTS OF BOTH THE CPI(A) AND CPI(B) FOR JANUARY COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH. IT INCLUDES SIX TABLES AND TWO GRAPHS.

THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC TRENDS+ CONTAINS A SUMMARY OF THE KEY ECONOMIC STATISTICS CONCERNING EXTERNAL TRADE, BANKING AND FINANCE, PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND TOURISM, PERCENTAGE CHANGES OVER THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS ARE ALSO SHOWN.

/+AN OUTLINE