XN000022-1988-06-29 — Page 42

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

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STRINGENT MEASURES FOR FISH MARKET

STRINGENT MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED NEXT MONTH IN THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION'S CHEUNG SHA WAN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET ΤΟ FURTHER IMPROVE THE MARKETING ORDER IN THE MARKET.

EFFECTIVE FROM FRIDAY (JULY

11.

FISH BUYERS WILL NOT BK ALLOWED ENTRY TO THE SORTING FLOOR OF THE MARKET WHERE FISH IS LANDED AND SORTED. ACCESS TO THIS AREA WILL, FROM THE SAME DATE, BE RESTRICTED TO FISHERMEN, THEIR AGENTS AND OTHER PERSONNEL REQUIRED WORK THERE.

TO

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), AN FMO SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE STRINGENT MEASURES WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE IN PURSUANCE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE'S WORKING GROUP ON GANGS.

HE SAID THAT THESE MEASURES WERE DESIGNED TO ROOT OUT VARIOUS MALPRACTICES DISCOVERED IN THE MARKET INCLUDING THE INFILTRATION BY TRIAD MEMBERS ON THE SORTING FLOOR, RESULTING IN GOOD QUALITY FISH BEING PRE-SELECTED, MARKED AND MANIPULATED THROUGH THE SALE PROCESS.

"THESE MALPRACTICES HAVE MADE IT EXTREMELY UNFAIR ΤΟ THE MAJORITY OF THE FISH BUYERS WHO IN EFFECT ARE PREVENTED FROM PARTICIPATING IN A FAIR AUCTION OF THE FISH.

BE

"IN VIEW OF THE SITUATION, AND SINCE ALL FISH BUYERS SHOULD ABLE TO PURCHASE FISH FROM THE AUCTION FLOOR, WE HAVE DECIDED TO PROHIBIT BUYERS FROM ENTERING THE SORTING FLOOR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

F

EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT WITH BOTH BUYERS AND FISHERMEN AND THEY HAD EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THESE MEASURES GENERALLY, HE ADDED.

THE CHEUNG SHA WAN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET IS ONE OF THE SEVEN FMO WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS. ITS DAILY THROUGHPUT IS ABOUT CATERING MAINLY FOR THE POPULATION OF WEST KOWLOON.

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TONNES,

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