ENG-1957 — Page 145

120

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

fishermen from eight districts competed in sampan races, tug-of-war and wrestling matches for prizes donated by leading fishermen, merchants and other friends.

The Forestry Division's activities are described above, under Forestry.

The Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association,* working closely with the Department, continued in 1957 to give invaluable practical assistance in agricultural development. Village requirements for the construction or repair of wells, dams, irrigation channels, paths and bridges were investi- gated by the District Officers of the three districts into which the New Territories are divided, and in all cases where assistance seemed warranted, but which were beyond the capacity of the local public works vote operated by the New Territories Administration, the requirements were referred to the Association, which since 1955 has generously provided over 16,000 bags of cement for small but important works of this kind. Free gifts of pigs and pigsties were made, and during the drought pumps were supplied, as in previous years, to assist irrigation. A total of 60 orchards, 400 sprayers and 200 threshers were also given. A new scheme to settle 2,000 people as pig-raisers commenced towards the end of the year.

MARKETING

Fish Marketing Organization. With the object of promot- ing the general development of the local fishing industry,

* In 1955 the sponsors of the Association, Messrs. Lawrence and Horace Kadoorie, made a gift of $250,000 to the Government to start a loan fund for farmers, and the Government, in accepting the gift, made a dollar-for-dollar contribution and introduced the necessary legislation to enable the fund to be established. Known as the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, it is operated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department, with the Director as trustee. In 1957 Government donated a further $750,000 to the fund to bring it up to $1,250,000. During the year a further 4,434 loans totalling $520,317 were issued. Up to 31st December 1957, loans totalling $1,145,819 had been granted of which $565,448 had been repaid.