XN000022-1995-05-24 — Page 31

Development of the fishing industry

Following is the speech of the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council motion debate on the development of the fishing industry today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

May I say from the outset that the Administration support the motion. We do so because we have a policy on the fishing industry. We believe we wished the industry to survive and develop. What we are faced with, is an issue related to a portion of our fleet. A portion of our fleet which is facing a temporary difficulties. And we do hope that by working together we would be able to find some ways to get this portion of the fleet out of the current troubles.

Let me start off by responding on the policy for the development of the fishing industry.

The industry makes an important contribution to Hing Kong's economic. In 1994, a fishing fleet yielded an estimated 211,000 tonnes of fisheries produce valued at over $2 billion. Of this total, some 71 per cent of the fresh marine products were landed in Hong Kong and consumed in Hong Kong. About 10 per cent of the total catch is derived from within Hong Kong waters.

The Administration's policy towards the industry is to promote the development of the industry and the sustainable use of fisheries resources, with a view to maintaining a steady supply of fresh fish for local consumers.

This policy implemented in a number of ways. We provide assistance on technical matters such as fishing vessel design, advice on location of fisheries resources, loans and vocational training for fishermen to improve productivity and wholesale markets run by the Fish Marketing Organisation. We also participate in regional fora on management of fisheries resources in the South China Sea and other nearby waters. These forms of support for the fishing industry will continue and they will be supplemented in future by fisheries conservation initiatives that will contribute to the long term sustainable development of the industry, I say more about these later.