ENG-1972 — Page 87

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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the introduction of rabies. Stray dogs are caught and detained for observation and, if unclaimed, destroyed in pursuance of the rabies control policy.

Fishing Industry

As marine fish is one of Hong Kong's main primary products, every effort is made to encourage the development of the fishing industry, to increase supplies of fish and to improve the economic status of fishermen.

The fishing fleet consists of some 5,600 vessels of which about 5,000 are mecha- nised. The number of fishermen is estimated at 48,000 and the main fishing centres are at Aberdeen, Shau Kei Wan, Castle Peak, Tai Po and Sai Kung. The larger part of the fleet is owner-operated, while the remainder is directed by fish dealers and fishing companies.

Fish ponds totalling 2,750 acres are mainly located in the Yuen Long area. The most important species is the grey mullet, the fry of which are collected along the coastal waters in spring. Other important species for cultivation include silver carp, grass carp, big-head and mud-carp; a total of 13.1 million of these fry were imported from China and Taiwan during 1972. Total fish pond production in 1972 amounted to 2,672 metric tons, representing 8.44 per cent of the local freshwater fish consump- tion; this quantity is valued at $17.89 million.

Edible oysters are cultivated in Deep Bay. Production amounted to 55 metric tons of oyster meat, valued at approximately $718,000. Part of this quantity was dried for export.

Marketing

There are two principal wholesale marketing organisations serving the agricul- tural and fishing industries. These are the Vegetable Marketing Organisation and the Fish Marketing Organisation.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agriculture Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which provides for a board to advise the Director of Mar- keting (currently the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its main objective is to provide for orderly transportation of locally-produced vegetables from the New Ter- ritories to the wholesale market in Kowloon, and the supervision of sales and financial transactions in the market. Revenue is obtained from a 10 per cent commission on sales of vegetables. The organisation is a non-profit-making concern and seeks to obtain maximum returns for growers by minimising their marketing costs. During 1972, a total of 78,196 metric tons of vegetables, valued at $81,886,000 were sold through the organisation.

The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance, which likewise provides for a board to advise the Director of Marketing. The organisation grew out of the steps taken to rehabilitate the fishing fleet at the end of the Pacific War, with the long-term object of developing the industry on a sound economic footing. It provides orderly marketing and transportation facilities for the primary producer and the retailer of marine fish, at the organisation's seven wholesale