XN000022-1983-12-07 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1983

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IN 1973, FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AREAS WERE DEFINED WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF UPGRADING ENVIRONMENT IN THESE AREAS BY OBTAINING MORE LAND FOR GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AS AND WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE MR CHAN TOLD THE COUNCIL.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID REDEVELOPMENT SCHEMES FOR INDIVIDUAL SITES WERE ALSO UNDERTAKEN BY THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY.

MR CHAN REFERRED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT SCHEMES AND THE REDEVELOPMENT SCHEMES UNDERTAKEN BY THE PRIAVTE SECTOR.

AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING PRODUCTION RISES ****

OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE VALUE IN REAL TERMS OF AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING PRODUCTION HAS BEEN INCREASING AT AN ANNUAL AVERAGE RATE OF 1.7 PER CENT AND 3.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THIS COMPARES WITH THE AVERAGE GDP GROWTH RATE OF 9.6 PER CENT A YEAR OVER THE SAME PERIOD, MR JACOBS SAID.

IN 1982, THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING INDUSTRIES HAD A NET OUTPUT OF $1 300 MILLION WHICH REPRESENTED JUST UNDER ONE PER CENT OF THE GDP.

WHILE THE PROPORTION OF THE GDP ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE TWO SECTORS HAD BEEN FALLING, THEIR GROWTH RATES WERE NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT→ IN THE FACE OF THE CONTINUAL LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND THE RESTRICTIONS ON FISHING GROUNDS IMPOSED ON THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET, HE SAID.

MR JACOBS WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW So, WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S GDP WAS DUE TO THE TWO SECTORS AND WHAT ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN OFFERED TO THEM TO INCREASE THEIR OUTPUT AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, PROVIDED THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ADVICE AND SERVICES, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, CREDIT FACILITIES, EFFICIENT WHOLESALE MARKETING AND THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTION METHODS.

MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT SEVEN LOAN FUNDS FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY AND FACILITATING DEVELOPMENT WORK ARE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL FARMERS AND FISHERMEN.

THE CURRENT CAPITAL OF THE FUNDS IS $12.2 MILLION FOR AGRICULTURE AND $19.2 MILLION FOR FISHERIES.

MR JACOBS REPORTED THAT IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR

1 167 LOANS TOTALLING $12.7 MILLION WERE GIVEN TO FARMERS AND 113 LOANS TOTALLING $8.17 MILLION TO FISHERMEN.