ENG-1982 — Page 89

5

Primary Production

HONG KONG has a very small agricultural base with only about nine per cent of the total land area being suitable for crop farming. Yet, its people, according to the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation, are among the world's highest consumers of protein.

Each day, the people of Hong Kong consume about 1 000 tonnes of rice, 1 500 tonnes of vegetables, 10 000 pigs, 650 head of cattle, 150 tonnes of poultry, 400 tonnes of fish and 1 000 tonnes of fruit. Much of this is imported, but Hong Kong farmers - less than one per cent of the economically active population - help to satisfy some of this demand. In quantity terms, local farmers produce about 38 per cent of fresh vegetables, 55 per cent of live poultry, 21 per cent of live pigs, and 14 per cent of fresh water fish, while the fishing fleet of nearly 5000 vessels supplies about 80 per cent of all fresh marine fish eaten. The locally-produced food is generally of a higher quality than the imported foodstuffs and thus fetches higher prices in the markets.

Foodstuffs account for about 25 per cent of Hong Kong's imports from China. Local production, aimed at maintaining a degree of self-sufficiency, is geared to complement rather than compete with major food imports. Local produce consists of mainly high-value, perishable foods and full advantage is taken of the local consumers' preference for fresh food, as opposed to the frozen or chilled versions.

Severe rainstorms in May and August caused considerable damage to crops, fish ponds and livestock in the New Territories, resulting in temporary shortages of locally-produced food supplies. In May, 1 000 hectares of crops and 500 hectares of fish ponds were flooded while 10 000 pigs and some 400 000 chickens were drowned. The August rainstorms were less severe, but still resulted in the flooding of 450 hectares of crops and 310 hectares of fish ponds and the drowning of 7 000 chickens and 100 pigs.

Agriculture and Fisheries Department

The policy of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department is to encourage optimum use of agricultural land throughout the rural areas. It assists in the development of agriculture, especially in the form of irrigation projects and other long-term improvement schemes. New concepts, techniques and material input to the farming and fishing industries are evaluated and actively promoted. Controls are exercised to prevent the introduction and spread of plant and livestock pests and diseases.

Low interest loans are administered by the department to help farmers and fishermen to finance their operational or long-term investment requirements. It also organises and finances vocational and technical training for those directly and indirectly involved in primary production. In addition, it is responsible for the registration and supervision of co-operative societies and credit unions. The department manages large areas of open countryside and is responsible for soil and water conservation, woodland management and