ENG-1981 — Page 105

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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The amount of land used to cultivate rice has dropped from 9 450 hectares in 1954 to 10 hectares in 1981. Rice production has given way to intensive vegetable production, which gives a far higher return. Much former paddy land around the more remote village has fallen into disuse and now lies fallow.

Various types of fruit are grown in Hong Kong. The principal crops are longan, lychees, wampei, tangerines, local lemons, bananas, guavas and pineapples. Land under orchards in 1954 totalled 390 hectares; by 1981 it was 690 hectares.

Other field crops such as sweet potatoes, taro, yams and sugar cane are cultivated on a small scale in the remote and drier areas where water and transport facilities are inadequate for growing vegetables. Some 80 hectares were under rain-fed crops in 1981, 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 as pure strains of the Chinese type are difficult to find. The value of locally-produced pigs killed in 1981 amounted to $221.8 million.

With an annual production value of $542 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 1981, local chicken production increased by 12.6 per cent to about 17.4 million birds consumed, with an increase of 40 per cent in the number of live chickens imported from China. The value of hen eggs produced amounted to $36 million for the year.

While local cattle are used mainly for work, Friesians are kept by dairies most of which are in the New Territories.

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 government's veterinary laboratory.

Stringent rabies control measures continued to remain in force. These included extensive immunisation of dogs and cats against rabies, intensive catching and elimination of stray dogs and restriction of dog movement into and out of the gazetted rabies-infected areas which covered part of northern New Territories. By the end of the year, seven rabies cases had been confirmed, 47 020 dogs humanely destroyed and 43 628 dogs licensed and inocu- lated against rabies.

As standard practice, all imported dogs and cats, other than those from Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, are subject to six-months quarantine. Any dog that bites a person is required to be detained for observation in government kennels for a period of seven days.

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

Fishing Industry

Marine fish constitute 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.

Total estimated production from the two major sectors – marine capture and culture fisheries amounted to 182 000 tonnes with a wholesale value of $1,340 million in 1981.

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