ENG-1979 — Page 88

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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vegetables. Some 90 hectares were under rain-fed crops in 1979, compared with 1,410 hectares in 1954.

Because there is insufficient land for extensive grazing, pigs and poultry are the principal animals reared for food. Pigs in Hong Kong are mostly crosses of local animals with exotic stock; pure strains of the Chinese type are difficult to find. The value of locally-produced pigs killed in 1979 amounted to $217.4 million.

With an annual production value of $400 million, the poultry industry - including ducks, pigeons and quail – continues to develop. Many farmers have adopted advanced methods of management and have successfully adapted them to local conditions. During 1979, local chicken production increased by 8.2 per cent to about 16.4 million birds con- sumed, with a decrease of 8.8 per cent in the number of live chickens imported from China. The value of hen eggs produced amounted to $35 million for the year.

While local cattle are used mainly for work, Friesians are kept by dairies. The largest dairy is on Hong Kong Island and others are located in the New Territories. Regular tuberculin testing is carried out on all dairy animals.

Sporadic outbreaks of a mild type of foot-and-mouth disease (type O) and swine fever still occur, but they are kept under control by vaccination. Newcastle disease in poultry is controlled by the use of Ranikhet and intranasal-drop vaccines. Investigations to establish the incidence of intercurrent disease in both pigs and poultry are undertaken at the govern- ment's veterinary laboratory.

All imported dogs and cats, other than those from Britain, Australia and New Zealand, are subject to six months' quarantine. To prevent the introduction of rabies, stray dogs are caught and, if unclaimed, are destroyed under a rabies control policy. Any dog that bites a person is required to be detained for observation in government kennels. An annual rabies awareness campaign is designed to bring home to the public the dangers of the disease.

All cattle and pigs imported for food also are quarantined on arrival in Hong Kong. Any imported for breeding purposes are subject to strict procedures.

Fishing Industry

Marine fish are one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. More than 150 fish species of commercial importance frequent the waters of the adjacent continental shelf. Most important of these in terms of landed weight are golden thread, scads, lizardfish, big- eyes, sardines, conger-pike eels and croakers.

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Total estimated production from the two major sectors marine capture and culture fisheries - amounted to 189,790 tonnes with a wholesale value of $1,190 million in 1979. These figures represent increases of 17 per cent in weight and 43 per cent in value com- pared with 1978. Of the total production, 96 per cent in weight came from marine capture and four per cent from culture fisheries. In terms of wholesale value, 90 per cent came from marine capture and 10 per cent from culture fisheries.

An estimated 35,700 fishermen work a fleet of 5,400 vessels, of which 90 per cent are mecha- nised. There are four major types of fishing in terms of gear: trawling, lining, gill-netting and purse-seining. Trawling is the most important, accounting for 72 per cent or 109,000 tonnes of marine fish landed in 1979. The total landed catch of live and fresh marine fish available for local consumption in 1979 amounted to 94,276 tonnes with a wholesale value of $502 million. This represented 90 per cent of the local consumer demand.

Pond fish farming is the most important culture activity. Fish ponds covering 1,830 hectares are located in the New Territories, principally in the Yuen Long district. Tradi- tional pond fish farming is similar to that practised in China for hundreds of years. Several