ENG-1961 — Page 137

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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and Tai Po and Sha Tau Kok in the New Territories. Six fish- collecting posts have been set up in other fishing centres and the Organization provides sea and land transport from these to the wholesale markets. The posts also serve as liaison offices for the Organization. The establishment of a further three wholesale fish markets, one in the urban area of Kowloon and two in the New Territories, is under consideration.

At the wholesale market fish is sorted into species and sizes by the staff of the Organization, weighed into lots and sold by public auction to licensed retailers. Fishermen may collect the proceeds from their sales directly after the sale has taken place or, if asked to do so, the Organization will send the money back to the post which serves their areas. Another service is the transportation of fish to buyers2-establishments in the urban areas.

Fresh fish sales through the Marketing Organization increased slightly during the year, whereas sales of salt and dried fish in- creased by almost 80% owing principally to good catches of cheap, low grade inshore fish which was sold mainly to fish sauce manu- facturers. The average annual wholesale prices for fresh and salt or dried fish increased by 13% and 11% compared with 1960.

The embargo on the importation of salt and dried fish from Hong Kong, imposed by the Chinese People's Government in June 1950, remained in force throughout the year. Salt fish exporters seeking other outlets have met with little success in the face of increasing competition from other countries in the region. During the year 7,573 piculs of salt and dried fish were exported, mainly to the USA, Canada, Thailand and Singapore.

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, established in 1946, has made 5,870 loans totalling $10,600,000; of this some $8,600,000 had been repaid at the end of the year. The ceiling of this fund was increased to $2,500,000 during the year in order to meet increased demands. In 1957 the Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE) donated $31,000 to form a revolving loan fund for shrimp fishermen. This fund is administered by the Organization and loans totalling $84,840 have been made; repay- ments to this fund total $76,944. The Organization also carries out investigations and acts as collecting agent for the two Government