ENG-1955 — Page 115

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

of view 1955 may be described as a bad year. This is, paradoxically, largely a result of the success of the Govern- ment's measures toward developing the fishing industry and mechanizing the fleet. Although Hong Kong still imports the larger amount of fresh-water fish consumed, the supply of marine fish is now evidently level with demand, and it would appear that the next step required is to export and develop reliable overseas markets for Hong Kong's marine fish surplus, presumably in dried form.

The commercial export of salt-dried fish was seriously affected when the Chinese authorities banned its import into China in 1950. This ban is still in force, but local merchants have been able to find new outlets, and markets have been established in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States.

In order to provide credit for productive purposes for local fishermen, the Fish Marketing Organization set up a revolving loan fund in September 1946. The fund has revolved many times; 2,643 loans, amounting to $2,533,944, have been issued, of which $1,996,871 has already been repaid.

In the Organization's welfare programme, education continues to play a major part. Over 1,350 fishermen's children are receiving education at schools wholly or partially financed by the Organization.

Vegetable Marketing Organization

The Government's arrangements for vegetable marketing may be described as a companion scheme to that for fish marketing. The control operated applies to the wholesaling and transport of vegetables in Kowloon and the New Territories. Hong Kong Island remains a free market (largely for imported vegetables), the aim of the arrangements being to protect and assist vegetable-growers in the New Territories.

The scheme, started in September 1946, now operates under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, 1952, which provides for the appointment of the Director of Marketing, as a corporation sole, and for the establishment of an Advisory Board, with the Director as chairman, and four other members nominated by the Governor.

The areas to which vegetable production is chiefly con- fined are considerable distances from the wholesale vegetable