XN000022-1981-03-12 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1981

THE CONTROLLER OF RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT WILL ACT AS A DEPUTY TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, REPORTING TO HIM ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRESS OF THE SCHEME, WITH POLICY DIRECTION FROM THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. HIS POST WILL MAKE HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANNING, DIRECTION, COORDINATION AND FINANCIAL CONTROL OF ALL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING DECISIONS ON INTERFACE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF THE EXISTING RAILWAY AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ONE.

MR HOWES CAME TO HONG KONG AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KCR IN MAY 1978, HAVING HAD MORE THAN FORTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE OF RAILWAYS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, WHERE HE IS CURRENTLY HAVING DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO THE PROJECT.

MR WONG U LAM HAS BEEN DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER SINCE MAY 1978 AND HAS OVER 27 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE KCR. HE HAS FREQUENTLY ACTED AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE RAILWAY.

NEW TECHNIQUES BOOST VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

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MODERN EQUIPMENT AND NEW TECHNIQUES HAVE HELPED LOCAL VEGETABLE FARMERS TO INCREASE THE IR PRODUCTIVITY, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.

AS A RESULT, MORE VEGETABLES WERE PRODUCED LAST YEAR DESPITE DECREASING ACREAGE DUE TO PRESSURES ON FARM LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.

A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT SHOULD GO TO MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPLY SOME 80 PER CENT OF ALL THE VEGETABLES MARKETED THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION, HE ADDED.

MR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS SPEAKING AT A SPRING DINNER AND INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE 29TH TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION.

THE FEDERATION CONTINUED TO BE ACTIVE LAST YEAR AND, WITH THE SALE OF A FURTHER 108 ROTARY CULTIVATORS, BROUGHT ITS TOTAL SALES OF THESE VERSATILE MACHINES TO ONLY TWO SHORT OF 2 000, HE SAID.

MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID: THE FEDERATION ALSO CONTINUED TO ENCOURAGE THE CHANGE OVER TO PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR TRANSPORTING VEGETABLES, CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO IMPROVING OPERATIONAL COSTS AND DECREASING THE WORKLOAD AT CHEUNG SHA WAN WHOLESALE VEGETABLE MARKET.

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, HE SAID, PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE VEGETABLE FARMERS. IT ALSO ASSISTS THEM BY MAKING AVAILABLE LOW-INTEREST LOANS, TRACTOR PLOUGHING SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR PLASTIC NETHOUSES.

+WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST EIGHT STUDENTS WITH AWARDS TOTALLING $124 300 TO PURSUE TERTIARY EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED SUBJECTS IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS HELP ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN FROM FARMING FAMILIES,+ MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID.

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