ENG-1984 — Page 152

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

arrangement is provided for fishermen, while experiments and demonstrations are con- ducted to test the suitability of new fishing gear. Training classes in navigation and business management for coxswains, engineers and radio-telephone operators working on fishing boats are organised in the main fishing centres.

Education is provided for the children of fishermen at 13 schools) run by the Fish Marketing Organisation. At the end of 1984, more than 3 613 children were attending these schools. A further 44 were attending other schools on scholarships awarded by the organisation.

Close contact with the fishing community is maintained through liaison with producer associations and fishermen's co-operative societies. Ten Fish Marketing Organisation liaison offices operate in the main fishing centres to provide a link with the fishermen.

Loans

Loans are available to the agricultural industry through three main loan funds: the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation Loan Fund. All are administered through the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. By December 31, 1984, loans issued since the inception of these three funds had reached a total of $203 million. Of this, $188 million had been repaid.

The Fisheries Development Loan Fund, with a capital of $7 million, is administered by the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries specifically for developing the fishing fleet. Finance from the World Refugee Year Loan Fund for Co-operative Societies, donated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1962, is also available to members of fishermen's co-operative societies. The Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund, which has operated as a revolving loan fund since January 1, 1983, by the transfer of $13 million from the organisation's surplus and deficit account, is another important source of loan finance for fishermen. The department administers another revolving loan fund, financed by the Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE), specifically for shrimp fishermen. On December 31, 1984, loans issued since the inception of these four funds totalled $138 million, of which $120 million had been repaid.

Co-operative societies operate under a Co-operative Societies Ordinance, which provides. for the appointment of a registrar - the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries. His powers and duties relate to the registration of co-operative societies and their by-laws, the auditing of accounts, inspection and inquiry, general supervision of operations, and such matters as mediation in disputes and dissolution of co-operative societies when necessary. At the end of the year, some 11 760 farmers and more than 1 900 fishermen were members of co-operative societies. There were 76 societies and two federations among the farming community, and 68 societies and four federations supported by fisherfolk. A further 252 societies and one federation formed by co-operative building societies with about 8 660 members operate in the urban area. The majority of the co-operative building societies were formed by local civil servants in receipt of financial aid from the government.

Credit unions operate under a Credit Unions Ordinance, which also provides for the appointment of a registrar - the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries - with powers and duties in regard to the registration of credit unions and their by-laws, the examination of accounts, general supervision of operations and dissolution.

There are 65 credit unions with about 19 900 members registered with the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. There are 33 credit unions comprising groups of people having a common bond of association, 25 unions of people having bonds of employment, and seven unions formed by groups each with a common bond of residence.