XN000022-1987-05-06 — Page 13

11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES NEED GREATER SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT

*****

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE GREATER ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND ABANDON ITS OUTDATED POLICY OF NON-INTERVENTION, THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON PRIMARY INDUSTRIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR TAI STRESSED THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PRIMARY INDUSTRIES SHOULD NOT BE UNDER-ESTIMATED NOR NEGLECTED AND THAT THEIR CONTINUED EXISTENCE WAS ESSENTIAL.

ME SUGGESTED THAT THE POLICY TOWARDS PRIMARY INDUSTRIES ESPECIALLY AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, SHOULD BE REVISED SO THAT SUCH INDUSTRIES COULD REMAIN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE COMPARED WITH FOREIGN IMPORTS AND ACHIEVE A GREATER DEGREE OF STABILISATION IN THE SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

MR TAI SAID THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A STEADY SUPPLY OF BOTH LOCAL AND IMPORTED FOODSTUFF LEFT MUCH TO BE DESIRED.

HE NOTED THAT IMPORTED FOODSTUFF AT PRESENT DOMINATED THE MARKET AND IT THEREBY SHOWED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT PERFORMING ITS PRIMARY TASK OF ASSISTING AND PROMOTING LOCAL AGRICULTURE.

IN ORDER TO PROMOTE LOCAL AGRICULTURE, MR TAI SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SELECTING CERTAIN AREAS TO BE DESIGNATED AS AGRICULTURAL PRIORITY AREAS WITHIN WHICH INFRASTRUCTURES WOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE FARMERS TO MAINTAIN A VIABLE LIVELIHOOD.

HE SAID THE ADOPTION OF SUCH A PLAN SHOULD DO MUCH TO HELP STABILISE THE MARKET SUPPLY AND THE PRICE OF FOODSTUFF.

MR TAI POINTED OUT THAT ONLY 3 000 HECTARES OF THE 7 000 HECTARES OF ARABLE LAND WERE UNDER CULTIVATION AT THE MOMENT AND URGED THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO DEPLOY MORE STAFF TO EDUCATE FARMERS IN APPLYING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO CULTIVATE FALLOW LAND SO AS TO ENCOURAGE AND EXPAND LOCAL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

HE SAID AGRICULTURE AND FISHERY INDUSTRIES SHOULD EMPLOY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SO AS TO REDUCE LABOUR COSTS AND ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCY.

+THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, HE ADDED.

TURNING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY MANURE FROM P18 AND POULTRY FARMS, MR TAI WELCOMED THE GOVERNMENT'S INCREASED DETERMINATION TO COMBAT SUCH NUISANCE AND HEALTH HAZARDS, BUT WARNED THAT SEVERE POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES WOULD ENDANGER THE LIVELIHOOD OF NEARLY 26 000 PEOPLE WHO EARN THEIR LIVING BY REARING ANIMALS.

+THEREFORE, I APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL TO DELIBERATE CAREFULLY OVER THE HARDSHIP OF THOSE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED AND SEARCH FOR A BETTER COMPROMISE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF 26 000 FARMERS, HE SAID.