TNAG-0268-FCO40-304-Petitions-from-rural-consultative-council-of-new-territories-1970 — Page 30

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and further works are envisaged in the longer term.

(iv) Vocational Training

The Government of Hong Long appreciates the need for vocational training. In so far as vocational training in agriculture is concerned, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department of the Government of Hong Kong has been running subsidized courses for New Territories farmers in modern techniques of pir raising, poultry keeping, fruit Crowing and the use of farm machinery. These are supplemented by lectures on sprinkler irrigation for vegetables, the use of compost, marketing of vegetables, and control of insects, pests and diseases. In addition, the staff of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department carries out regular advisory visits to farms.

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As regards industrial and technical training, facilities are available in the Technical College and Technical Institute. These facilities are open equally to rural as well as urban youths. Moreover, it is understood that plans are already in hand to expand the Hong Kong Government's technical education programme: Folytechnic will be established by about 1974 which would double the existing facilities at post-secondary level. The Government is also currently examining the future long-term role of technical institutes and considering the development of further institutes; this will, of course, embrace the New Territories as well as the urban areas. In addition, the Government has announced its intention to provide aid for the establishment of pre- vocational junior technical schools, offering 3 years cources for primary school leavers.

(v) Agricultural Board

Your proposal that an Agricultural Board should be established to facilitate the sale of all types of farm produce has been considered in detail by the Hong Kong Government but the latter has frave doubts as to its feasibility since different forms of produce have different production and marketing requirements.

Judging by the success of the Vegetable Marketing Organisation over the past 23 years, it would therefore appear that a better solution would be the establishment of similar organisations for other forms of agriculture. However, other agricultural produce, such as poultry, pigs, flowers, fruits, milk, eggs, etc., do not ṛresently lend themselves readily to control by a marketing organisation; nor is there any apparent

any apparent emand by individual producers or consumers for regulation of the trade by such machinery. If the demand for such organisations should arise in future it is understood that the Hong Kong Government would be prepared to consider their establishment in the light of circumstances existing at the time.

(vii) Changing of the Title of Heung Yee Kuk to New Territories

Consultative Council

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