ENG-1979 — Page 89

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

different carp species are cultured in the same pond, each deriving its food from a different source and thus utilising to the utmost the nutrients introduced. Owing to the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories, the land area devoted to fish ponds has levelled off. During the year, they yielded 6,540 tonnes or 16 per cent of the local consumption of freshwater fish.

In the past decade, there has been considerable development in marine fish culture. Young fish, captured from their natural environment, are fattened in cages suspended from rafts in sheltered bays throughout Hong Kong, particularly in the eastern New Territories.

In 1979, live marine fish supplied by this activity from some 60 sites amounted to 720 tonnes valued at $32 million. Legislation is being introduced to allow the orderly develop- ment of the marine fish culture industry in the limited sea area available.

Marketing

B

Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products particularly fresh foods. is the responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and of the Vegetable and Fish Marketing Organisations administered by that department. During 1979, 29 per cent of the total quantity of locally-produced vegetables and 72 per cent of the total landings of marine fish were wholesaled through the Vegetable and Fish Marketing Organisations. Retail marketing of fresh food is a matter for the Urban Council and for the Urban Services Department.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which provides for a board to advise the Director of Marketing (the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its main concerns are transporting locally- produced vegetables from the New Territories to the wholesale market in Kowloon, pro- viding marketing facilities, and supervising sales and financial transactions in the market. Revenue is obtained from a 10 per cent commission on sales. The organisation is non-profit- making. It seeks to obtain maximum returns for growers by minimising marketing costs, and renders such ancillary services as the acquisition and sale of agricultural supplies to farmers and the awarding of scholarships to the dependants of farmers for tertiary education. During the year, 55,600 tonnes of vegetables valued at $115.6 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. Revenue is obtained from a six per cent commission on the proceeds of sales; surplus earnings are ploughed back into the industry in the form of various services. These include low interest rate loans to fishermen; market and marketing improvements; support for the 14 schools run for the benefit of fishermen's children; and the award of scholarships for secondary and tertiary education. In 1979, the wholesale fish markets handled 88,308 tonnes of marine fish, crustacea and molluscs which were sold for some $400 million. This included 638 tonnes of imported marine fish sold through these markets.

Facilities in the existing wholesale markets are inadequate for handling the ever-increasing quantities of imported fresh vegetables, fruit, poultry, eggs, freshwater fish and crustacea. There is widespread obstruction, traffic congestion and low marketing efficiency at high costs. With the obvious need to improve these markets, plans are going ahead to establish new wholesale markets in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. In the interim, the govern- ment has brought a number of temporary wholesale markets into operation.