ENG-1976 — Page 87

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Fish ponds totalling 1 777 hectares are located in the New Territories, principally in the Yuen Long district. The main species raised is grey mullet, but also important are four carp species which make up about 55 per cent of the annual yield. Total pond fish production for 1976 was 5 182 tonnes valued at $42 million, which met 15 per cent of local demand. Fish fry for pond stocking are mainly imported from China and Taiwan, Grey mullet fry are caught locally.

The culture of marine fish continues to develop. It involves the growing of marine fish from fry or fingering stages to marketable size in cages suspended in the sea in various bays throughout the New Territories. It is estimated that 983 families were engaged in this business in 1976, and the total value of fish produced was $17 million.

A Marine Fish Culture (Control) Ordinance is to be introduced in 1977 to licence, control and protect the marine fish culturists. A new section of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department was established in June 1976 to carry out the initial im- plementation of the ordinance.

Marketing

Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products—particularly fresh foods -is a responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and of the fish and vegetable marketing organisations administered by that department. Retail fresh food marketing is a matter for the Urban Council and for the Urban Services Department.

The local agriculture and fishing industries are served by the vegetable and fish marketing organisations. During the year 32 per cent of the total quantity of locally produced vegetables, and 68 per cent of the total landings of marine fish, were whole- saled through these two organisations.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which provides for a board to advise the Director of Market- ing (the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its main concerns are the transporta- tion of locally produced vegetables from the New Territories to the wholesale market in Kowloon, the provision of marketing facilities, and the supervision of sales and financial transactions in the market. Revenue is obtained from a 10 per cent com- mission 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 the year, 59 710 tonnes of vegetables valued at nearly $78 million were sold through the organisation.

The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance, which also provides for an advisory board. The ordinance provides for the control of the landing, wholesale marketing, import and export of marine fish. The Fish Marketing Organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets strategically sited at points to provide convenient services to the public, the trade and the industry. Revenue is obtained from a six per cent commission on proceeds of sales of fish, and surplus earnings are ploughed back into the industry in the form of various services. These include low-interest rate loans to fishermen for productive purposes,