ENG-1984 — Page 156

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

to fishermen, improvements to the markets, financial support for the 13 schools for fishermen's children, and scholarships for secondary and tertiary education.

In 1984, the wholesale fish markets handled 75 000 tonnes of marine fish, crustacea and molluscs which were sold for $540 million. This included 780 tonnes of imported marine fish sold through these markets.

Facilities in the existing wholesale markets are becoming inadequate for handling the ever increasing quantities of imported fresh vegetables, fruit, poultry, eggs, freshwater fish and crustacea. Marketing activities have spilled on to adjacent public streets causing obstruction and traffic congestion. To improve the situation, plans are going ahead to establish new wholesale markets in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island to centralise the wholesale marketing of fresh foodstuffs. In the interim, the government has introduced a number of temporary wholesale markets at Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon for fresh water fish, poultry and imported vegetables, and at Western District on Hong Kong Island for fruit.

Mining

At the end of 1984, one mining lease and three mining licences for extraction of feldspar and kaolin were in operation. Details of the leases and licences are published twice a year in the Government Gazette.

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.

Most of the tunnelling works for the Mass Transit Railway's Island Line project had been completed and the consumption of explosives decreased gradually towards the end of the year. Storage space was provided for about five tonnes of fireworks for a display in February to mark the Lunar New Year. Space was also provided for about 2.3 tonnes of fireworks for a display in December to mark the opening of the New Town Plaza in Sha Tin and also to instil a sense of belonging among the community and to further promote the work of the Sha Tin District Board. Approval was given for continued importation and use in Hong Kong of Chinese-manufactured explosives and blasting accessories after storage and firing tests were undertaken by the Mines Division. The consumption of explosives during the year was 4 337.5 tonnes.