XN000022-1989-07-25 — Page 16

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TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1989

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY

(TUESDAY),

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (FISHERIES) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, DR CHRISTOPHER LEE, SAID THE STRINGENT MEASURES WOULD BE STRICTLY IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY WITH THE POLICE AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE'S WORKING GROUP ON GANGS.

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

ΤΟ THE MAJORITY

"THESE MALPRACTICES HAVE MADE IT VERY UNFAIR OF THE FISH BUYERS WHO ARE IN FACT BARRED FROM TAKING PART IN A FAIR AUCTION OF THE FISH.

"IN VIEW OF THIS AND SINCE ALL FISH BUYERS SHOULD BE PURCHASE FISH FROM THE AUCTION FLOOR, WE HAVE DECIDED TO BUYERS FROM ENTERING THE SORTING FLOOR AND FROM MARKING BEFORE AUCTION," HE SAID.

DR LEE POINTED OUT THAT ACCESS TO THE SORTING FLOOR STRICTLY RESTRICTED TO FISHERMEN, THEIR AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES, WHOM WOULD BE ISSUED WITH A PERMIT.

ABLE TO PROHIBIT THE FISH

WOULD BE ALL OF

SAID,

AS A STRENGTHENED MEASURE TO IMPROVE MARKETING ORDER, HE THE SALE OF PRE-SORTED FISH IN BOXES WOULD BE STREAMLINED IN ALL FMO MARKETS WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME DATE.

"FISH IN BOXES WILL BE SOLD BY AUCTION ONLY NO MATTER THEY ARE IN SMALL LOT OR IN BULK.

"THIS WILL HELP TO ENSURE FAIR MARKETING AND SERVE THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING MONOPOLISTIC MANIPULATION OF FISH CATCHES BY TRIAD ELEMENTS," DR LEE ADDED.

THE FISH MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD, THE FISHERMEN'S FEDERATION OF SHAU KEI WAN AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT FISH MERCHANTS' SOCIETY HAVE BLEN CONSULTED AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED FULL SUPPORT FOR THESE MEASURES.

THE SHAU KEI WAN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET IS THE FOURTH LARGEST OF THE SEVEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS IN HONG KONG. ITS DAILY THROUGHPUT IS ABOUT 30 TONNES, CATERING MAINLY FOR THE POPULATION IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

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