ENG-1952 — Page 94

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952

Since 1950, there has been a marked increase in the quantity of fresh fish for sale and a reduction by half of the quantity of salt/dried fish landed. This change is, in the main, due to two factors. Formerly, at least 60% of the fish landed by the Hong Kong fleet was salted and dried and sent to China where there was a con- siderable demand for it at good prices. In 1950, however, the Kwangtung authorities placed restrictions on the importation of salt/dried fish from Hong Kong and consequently the bulk of the salt/dried fish now landed in the Colony is for local consumption and not export. Additionally, the increased mechanization of the fleet has meant that fish may be transported more quickly from the fishing grounds and it is now not necessary to salt it on board the junks.

During the Summer, the main fish wholesale market of the Colony was moved from Kennedy Town to a new, modern market in Aberdeen. This move has proved most successful and there has been a noted increase in the number of fishermen bringing their own catches direct to the market.

The Organization has, over the past few years, operated a loan fund which provides fishermen with cheap credit facilities. Most of the loans are short- term, mainly for the repair of gear and boats, but a few loans of larger amounts have been granted for the mechanization of craft. The Organization also sub- sidizes schools which have been established for fisher- men's children and awards scholarships to recognized schools. At the collecting depots fishermen's requisites are sold at wholesale prices. The whole Organization is self-supporting and has been planned so that it may eventually be taken over by fishermen and run as a co-operative enterprise.

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