ENG-1965 — Page 104

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

the now inadequate market at Yau Ma Tei. The new market is financed jointly by the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund and the Fish Marketing Organization. Two additional markets, both in the New Territories, are being planned for operation in 1966, one at Castle Peak and the other at Sai Kung. 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.

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At the wholesale markets, fish is sorted 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 transportation of fish to the buyers' establishment in the urban areas. There were no significant changes during 1965 in the quantities of fresh and salt or dried marine fish marketed, although wholesale prices showed an im- provement. The embargo on the importation 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.

The provision of cheap credit is one of the most important services offered by the Fish Marketing Organization to local fisher- men. The organization's revolving loan fund, established in 1946, has made loans totalling $19,916,016. Of this, some $17,260,072 had been repaid at the end of the year. The fund's ceiling was stabilized at $3 million in 1963. In 1957 the Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere donated $31,000 to form a revolving loan fund for shrimp fishermen, which was increased to $92,400 by a further donation in 1962. This fund is administered by the organization and loans totalling $322,102 have been made; repayments total $280,075.

A further important side to the organization's development programme is the provision of primary schooling facilities for the children of fishermen. Thirteen primary schools have been established by the organization and approximately 2,883 fishermen's children were receiving education at these schools with a further 930 attending other schools (including secondary) on scholarships provided by