ENG-1958 — Page 109

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

The Agricultural Division, under the immediate control of an Agricultural Officer, carries out investigative work on crops, such as variety trials, seed selection, soil fertility studies, manurial trials, and pests and disease control, on agricultural stations including the observation post on Tai Mo Shan at 2,000 feet, the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association Farm at 1,250 feet, and elsewhere on land rented from farmers. The extension, advisory, educational and observation work on crops and animal husbandry is the function of district agricultural officers operating in district stations and posts. The total permanent strength of the Division is 178 and includes 17 University graduates in several fields of agricultural science and 2 officers with diplomas in agriculture. The balance of the subordinate staff have been trained under service conditions. The Division comprises seven sections: Exten- sion, Crop (Research), Soils (Research), Pest Control (Research), Rural Education, Land Utilization and Agricultural Credit.

The Animal Industries Division was established in 1955 and is under the control of a Senior Veterinary Officer, with a total force of 88 permanent officers including 2 qualified veterinarians, 8 graduates in other fields of science relating to animal husbandry, and one officer with a diploma in animal husbandry. The balance of the subordinate staff have been trained under service conditions. The Division is divided into four sections: Animal Disease Control (Field Services), Animal Husbandry (Research), Diagnostic Services and Disease Control (Regulatory). In the latter section the Division deals with animal quarantine, rabies control, dairies and slaughter- houses in the New Territories, including meat inspection. The Senior Veterinary Officer is also technical adviser to the Director of Urban Services on problems connected with urban slaughter- houses at Ma Tau Kok and Kennedy Town.

Fisheries Division. The primary aim of the Government is to foster the expansion, in an orderly manner, of the marine and fresh water fisheries of the Colony for the purpose of meeting the nutritional needs of the population and improving the economic status of those engaged in fishing or fish farming. Policy is also directed to problems of overfishing and the conservation of fisheries resources. This policy, which concentrated in the imme- diate post-war years on the organization of wholesale marketing