ENG-1959 — Page 134

PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

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for human consumption, was sold as animal feed and fertilizer. As a result of the more favourable conditions experienced by fishermen sales through the Marketing Organization increased by some 15% compared with 1958.

Prices were good throughout 1959: the increase over last year was mainly due to a substantial decrease, particularly in the spring and early summer, of imports from China of other protein foods such as pond fish, pigs and cattle.

The embargo on the importation of salt/dried fish from the Colony, imposed by the Chinese Government in June 1950 re- mained in force throughout the year. Salt fish exporters continued to explore other outlets, but have met with little success in the face of increasing competition from other countries in the region. The main importing countries were U.S.A., Thailand and Canada.

In June 1957 the Fish Marketing Organization became con- cerned for the first time with the marketing of prawns and shrimps. This development was introduced specifically to meet the require- ments of the American market. In June of this year, however, following the discovery of irregularities practised by some Hong Kong exporters, the American authorities banned all imports of shrimps and prawns from Hong Kong, and the prawn market was closed down on 17th June. Prior to this date some 343 tons of shrimps and prawns valued at approximately $1,190,473, were handled by the Organization.

The provision of cheap credit is one of the most important of the services which the Fish Marketing Organization offers to local fishermen. The Organization's revolving loan fund, first established in 1946, had by the end of 1959 made 4,864 loans totalling $6,099,000, and of this total some $5,180,000 had been repaid. In 1957, C.A.R.E., an American relief agency, donated $31,000 to serve as the nucleus of a loan fund for shrimp and prawn fishermen. Forty loans totalling $38,840 had been issued from this loan fund by the end of 1959.

The education of fishermen's children is another principal object of the Fish Marketing Organization, the general aim being to provide education up to Primary IV standard; in two fishing centres, Shau Kei Wan and Ap Chau, educational facilities have been extended to include Primary VI. In addition, a Fishermen's Adult Education Class has been opened at Shau Kei Wan: this