ENG-1966 — Page 116

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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Kowloon and Tai Po and Sha Tau Kok in the New Territories. The new market of modern design at Cheung Sha Wan, which was completed in April, was financed jointly by the Colonial Develop- ment and Welfare Fund and the Fish Marketing Organization. Two additional markets, both in the New Territories, are being planned. 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 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 1966 in the quantities of fresh and salt or dried marine fish marketed, although wholesale prices of fresh marine fish showed an improvement. 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 competi- tion 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 $21,947,696. Of this, some $19,200,000 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 Ameri- can 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 organiza- tion and loans totalling $389,062 have been made; repayments total $326,369.

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 3,710 fishermen's children were receiving education at these schools with a further 988 attending