ENG-1981 — Page 107

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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six per cent commission on the proceeds of sales, with surplus earnings being channelled back into the industry in the form of various services. These included 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 awarding of scholarships for secondary and tertiary education.

In 1981, the wholesale fish markets handled 81 925 tonnes of marine fish, crustacea and molluscs which were sold for some $475 million. This included 1 150 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 government has brought a number of temporary wholesale markets into operation.

Mining

Under the Mining Ordinance, the Crown has the ownership and control of minerals. The Land Officer is empowered to grant mining leases and the Commissioner of Mines to grant mining and prospecting licences. Details of leases and licences in operation are published twice a year in the Government Gazette. At the end of the year, one mining lease, six mining licences and three prospecting licences were valid for different areas.

Kaolin, feldspar and quartz are mined by opencast methods. Most of the feldspar produced is exported to Taiwan while the quartz and kaolin are consumed by local industries.

The Mines Division of the Labour Department enforces legislation and safety regula- tions relating to mining and explosives. It processes mining and prospecting applications; inspects mining and prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives stores; and issues shotfirers' blasting certificates. The division also controls the possession, conveyance, storage, manufacture and use of explosives in Hong Kong, including delivery of explosives from government depots to blasting sites. In addition, it manages government explosives depots that provide bulk storage facilities for imported explosives.

The old government explosives depot on Green Island, situated off the western tip of Hong Kong Island, was moved to a new location on Stonecutters Island in August 1981. The consumption of explosives during the year was 5 442 tonnes.