ENG-1984 — Page 150

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埋菜凍

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. Only about two per cent of the labour force is engaged in primary production - agriculture and fisheries - yet its people, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 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, 600 head of cattle, 250 tonnes of poultry, 450 tonnes of fish and 1 000 tonnes of fruit. Much of this is imported, but Hong Kong farmers help to satisfy some of the demand. In quantity terms, local farmers produce about 31 per cent of fresh vegetables, 55 per cent of live poultry, 20 per cent of live pigs, and 12 per cent of freshwater fish, while the fishing fleet of nearly 5 000 vessels supplies about 90 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 20 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 mainly of high-value, perishable foods and full advantage is taken of the local consumers' preference for fresh food, as opposed to frozen or chilled food.

Agriculture and Fisheries Department

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department encourages 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 landscape repair – as well as fire-fighting - and the development of recreational services in country parks.

Consumer demand and local primary production, within the context of world food production and supply, are monitored to enable appropriate development planning. Statistics on production factors and food supplies, including imports, are collected and

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