Sessional_Paper_1934 — Page 9

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trict Officer, North, and the Head of the Sanitary Department, the Committee have reached the conclusion that the existing organisation for the marketing of New Territory produce in Hong Kong and Kowloon is functioning in an effective manner, and we are satisfied that there is no ground for the allegation, which we understand has occasionally been made, that the New Territory farmer does not get a proper chance of having his produce sold at the market stalls of Hong Kong and Kowloon. The proposal of the Agricultural Association to establish a collecting depot in Yuen Long market is not calculated in its view to add to the marketing facilities, but the Association appears to hope that its experiment will tend to secure to any farmers who avail themselves of it a greater margin of profit.

24. We recommend that the Government should provide additional vegetable laan space in Yaumati, and we suggest that in allocating laan areas on the new site to be so provided, the Head of the Sanitary Department should bear in mind the im- portance of encouraging each laan applicant to sell New Territory vegetables in the laan area to be allotted to him. In some cases from his own knowledge the Head of the Sanitary Department may be able to give preference to an applicant known to deal in New Territory produce and the Head of the Sanitary Department could add his encouragement thereto.

25. With regard to improvement of means of communication between the villages and the New Territory market centres, we quote the following extract from a minute by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon :—

"At the present stage the transport and purchasing facilities provided by the 'laan' and 'Kai-yes' seem sufficient. In moving about it has appeared to me that in many cases 'producers' have a long 'carry' to the road or rail. The mak- ing of 'tracks' passable for light lorries into these districts might be considered. In general surfacing would be unnecessary. Roughly graded tracks 6′ to 8′ wide with 'passing places' would suffice. Swampy patches could be 'fascined'. The area to the north of Taipo and stretching to the Border beyond Sai Kung seems badly served. The District Officer, North and the Supt. Botanical & Forestry Department could assess the possibilities of this large area better than I can'

We commend this suggestion for the consideration of the Government.

Although not strictly within the terms of reference, one member of the Committee desires to put forward the view that technical advice to the farmers on the question of fertilization of the soil and selection of seeds would be of great assistance to the farmers of the New Territories, since such assistance would tend to increase the pro- duction of farm produce and thus help further to reduce the cost.

26. In conclusion we wish to express our appreciation of the manner in which Miss A. Fowler, Stenographer of the Medical Department, has helped us by making a very full record of our discussions.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servants,

A. E. WOOD, Chairman.

S. W. TS'O.

J. P. BRAGA.

T. MEGARRY.

E. H. WILLIAMS,