ENG-1964 — Page 97

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

FISH MARKETING ORGANIZATION

The present Fish Marketing Organization grew out of the steps taken to rehabilitate the fishing fleet at the end of the Pacific War. Interest-free loans and grants were made and a fish marketing scheme was introduced with the long-term object of developing the industry on a sound economic footing. From this beginning developed the present non-government trading organization con- trolled by a civil servant, now the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The organization is a non-profit-making concern which finds its revenue and pays its expenses from a six per cent commission on all the sales in its wholesale markets. It operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance, 1956 which provides among other things for a Fish Marketing Advisory Board composed of un- officials to assist the organization.

The organization runs five wholesale fish markets at Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan on Hong Kong Island, Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon and Tai Po and Sha Tau Kok in the New Territories. Six fish- collecting depots have been set up in other fishing centres and the organization provides sea and land transport from these to the wholesale markets. The depots also serve as liaison offices for the organization.

At the wholesale markets, fish is sorted, weighed, and sold by public auction to licensed retailers. Fishermen may collect the proceeds from their sales directly the sale has taken place or, if asked to do so, the organization will send the money back to the depot which serves their areas. A further service is the transporta- tion of fish to buyers' establishments in the urban areas.

There were no significant changes this year in quantities or prices of fresh and salt or dried marine fish. The embargo on the importa- tion of salt and dried fish from the Colony imposed by the Chinese People's Government in 1950 remains in force and exporters seeking other outlets have met with little success in the face of increasing competition from other countries in the region. During the year 13,843 piculs of salt and dried fish were exported.

The provision of cheap credit is one of the most important services offered by the Fish Marketing Organization to local fishermen. The organization's revolving loan fund, established in