ENG-1984 — Page 155

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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capture and four per cent from culture fisheries. In terms of wholesale value, 90 per cent came from marine capture and 10 per cent from culture fisheries.

An estimated 29 000 fishermen work a fleet of 5 000 vessels, of which over 92 per cent are mechanised. There are four major types of fishing in terms of gear: trawling, lining, gill-netting and purse-seining. Trawling is the most important, accounting for 68 per cent or 78 000 tonnes of marine fish landed in 1984. The total landed catch of live and fresh marine fish available for local consumption in 1984 amounted to 95 000 tonnes, with a wholesale value of $720 million. This represented 90 per cent of the local consumer demand.

Pond fish farming is the most important culture activity. Fish ponds covering 1 640 hectares are located in the New Territories, principally in the Yuen Long district. Traditional pond fish farming is similar to that practised in China for hundreds of years. Several different carp species are cultured in the same pond, each deriving its food from a different source and so making the utmost use of the nutrients introduced. Owing to the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories, the land area devoted to fish ponds has gradually declined. During the year, the ponds yielded 6 500 tonnes, or 12 per cent of the local consumption of freshwater fish.

Marine fish culture has developed considerably in the past decade. Young fish, captured from their natural environment, are fattened in cages suspended from rafts in sheltered bays throughout Hong Kong, particularly in the eastern New Territories. Under the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance, 27 fish culture zones have been designated and all marine fish culture is now required to be conducted at sites within these zones under licence issued by the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries.

In 1984, live marine fish supplied by this activity amounted to 1 300 tonnes valued at $98 million.

Marketing

Much of the wholesale marketing of primary products – particularly fresh foods – is the responsibility of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Vegetable and Fish Marketing Organisations. During 1984, 49 per cent of the total quantity of locally produced vegetables, and 70 per cent of the total landings of marine fish, were sold through the organisations.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation operates under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which also provides for the establishment of a Marketing Advisory Board to advise the Director of Marketing (the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). The organisation is responsible for transporting locally produced vegetables from the New Territories to the wholesale market in Kowloon, providing marketing facilities, and supervising sales and financial transactions in the market. Revenue is obtained from a 10 per cent commission on sales. The organisation is non-profit-making. It seeks to maximise returns to farmers by minimising marketing costs. It also provides ancillary services such as the acquisition and sale of agricultural supplies to farmers and the awarding of secondary and tertiary education scholarships to the children of farmers. During the year, 74 098 tonnes of vegetables valued at $174 million were sold through the organisation.

The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordin- ance, which also provides for the establishment of a Fish Marketing Advisory Board. The ordinance provides for the control of the landing, wholesale marketing, and the import and export of marine fish. The organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets. Revenue comes from a six per cent commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled back into the industry in the form of various services such as low-interest loans