XN000022-1982-07-20 — Page 6

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1982

•THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL ARABLE LAND BY CAREFUL AND ACTIVE CULTIVATION ALSO PRODUCES A RURAL LANDSCAPE WHICH WOULD CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SCENIC BEAUTY OF A BALANCED ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE FOR A GEOGRAPHICALLY CONFINED PLACE LIKE HONG KONG,+

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT CONTINUES ITS EFFORTS IN SEEKING TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENT TO THE INDUSTRY AND BY IMPLEMENTING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO RAISE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY BY ENCOURAGING FARMERS TO ADOPT MODERN INPUTS AND FARMING TECHNIQUES.

ONE PROBLEM BESETTING THE INDUSTRY, HOWEVER, LIES IN THE CONTINUOUS DECLINE IN ACREAGE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND, WHICH DROPPED FROM A PEAK OF 13 720 HECTARES IN 1962 TO 9 850 LAST YEAR, DR LEE SAID.

ANOTHER PROBLEM RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, WITH CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER THE LIVESTOCK FARMERS DUMPING OR WASHING DOWN ANIMAL WASTE INTO WATER STREAMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

*WHILE SUCH PRACTICES WERE ENDURED IN THE PAST, IT IS HARDLY TOLERABLE NOWADAYS BY A MORE EDUCATED AND AFFLUENT POPULATION WHICH RANKS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.+

THESE PROBLEMS HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC AND STRATEGIC AGRICULTURAL LAND USE PLANNING WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CONSERVATION OF PRIME VEGETABLE LAND BY ENCOURAGING THE RE-OPENING OF ABANDONED LAND AS WELL AS RATIONALISING LIVESTOCK FARMING BY EXERCISING SUITABLE CONTROL AND BY DEVISING APPROPRIATE WASTE TREATMENT AND COLLECTION METHODS.

+ALL THESE FORM ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTS OF THE STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE CONSULTANT GROUP COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SEARCH FOR A PREFERRED STRATEGY FOR ORDERLY GROWTH OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TO ITS OPTIMUM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL,+ DR LEE SAID.

GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR CONSULTATIONS IN LONDON

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE WILL BE LEAVING HONG KONG ON A VISIT TO LONDON ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOR CONSULTATIONS ON THE VISIT TO HONG KONG BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN SEPTEMBER, AND ON OTHER CURRENT ISSUES.

HE IS EXPECTED TO BE AWAY FOR JUST OVER A WEEK.

DURING SIR EDWARD'S ABSENCE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE WILL BE THE ACTING GOVERNOR,