ENG-1958 — Page 127

PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

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of roads, paths and fire-barriers is also maintained to facilitate fire fighting. Exceptionally dry weather in the first week of January and a completely rainless autumn occasioned rather more serious fire losses in 1958 than in normal years. Approximately 80 acres of plantation were destroyed by fire, including one promising young pine area near Chuen Lung Village on Route Twisk. It will be noted that these losses, serious though they are, represent but a small percentage of the total area of 6,000 acres planted since 1953. Illegal woodcutting, once a major source of injury, has greatly declined over the past five years and is now of very little importance compared with fire. All the forest reserves are regularly patrolled to check illegal cutting

Perhaps the most important and far-reaching event of the year was the formation of an independent Forest Research Branch. The object of forest research in connexion with afforestation is to study and compare results both in experimental areas and in ordinary plantations, and to attempt to define the basic require- ments for good results. Unless afforestation work is based upon well-conducted research it is sure to fail or become uneconomic; particularly in an area such as Hong Kong where natural tree growth is scanty and there is little past experience to use as a basis.

The re-export of graded timber to the high-class markets of the United States, Australia, Europe and South Africa continues to expand. There is no locally grown timber available, all timber for local consumption or export being imported, mostly from Borneo.

MARKETING

Fish Marketing Organization. With the aim of promoting the general development of the local fishing industry, the Government has imposed certain controls on the landing and wholesale market- ing of marine fish. These controls are exercised through an agency known as the Fish Marketing Organization, which in one aspect of its operations provides many services which would otherwise be undertaken by middlemen. The Organization is a non-profit- making concern deriving its revenues, and so covering its expenses, from a 6% commission charged on all the sales of fish at its