ENG-1994 — Page 180

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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ordinance provides for the control of the landing, transport, wholesale marketing, and import and export of marine fish. The organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets. Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus earnings are channelled back into the industry in the form of services such as low-interest loans to fishermen, improvements to the markets, financial support for schools for fishermen's children, and scholarships for secondary and tertiary education.

In 1994, the wholesale fish markets handled 60 800 tonnes of marine fish, crustacea and molluscs which were sold for $570 million. This included 6 100 tonnes of imported marine fish.

The wholesale marketing of imported vegetables, fruit, poultry, eggs, freshwater fish and crustacea takes place at various Agriculture and Fisheries Department wholesale markets throughout the territory.

Facilities in some of these markets have become dilapidated and congested. Unable to cope with the increasing throughput, their marketing activities have spilled onto adjacent areas, causing obstruction, traffic congestion and environmental problems. To improve the situation, a long-term programme has been devised to replace the outdated markets with large modern wholesale market complexes, on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, and to centralise the wholesale marketing of fresh foodstuffs. The department has so far completed the reprovisioning of eight outdated wholesale markets. They were relocated, in phases, to two government-built permanent complexes. Phase I of the complex on Hong Kong Island, - which handles fruit, freshwater fish and eggs, was commissioned in 1991 while its second phase, which handles poultry and vegetables, was commissioned in 1994. Phase I of the Kowloon complex, which provides facilities for the wholesale marketing of vegetables, freshwater fish and eggs and incorporating the Fish Marketing Organisation market for Cheung Sha Wan, was commissioned in 1993. Plans are in hand to proceed with the construction of the second phase, which will reprovision the dilapidated Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and the temporary poultry market at Cheung Sha Wan. To make optimal utilisation of the site reserved for the second phase of the Kowloon market complex, a study was being conducted to look into the feasibility of incorporating the second phase with a mid-stream container-handling yard and overhead development. Pending the completion of the second phase of the Kowloon complex and the permanent markets planned for the New Territories, the department continues to operate two temporary wholesale markets - at North District in the New Territories for agricultural products, and at Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon for poultry.

During the year, the wholesale markets managed by the department handled 259 440 tonnes of local and imported vegetables, 79 280 tonnes of local and imported poultry, 50 640 tonnes of local and imported freshwater fish and fishery products, 155 290 tonnes of imported fruit and 83 420 tonnes of imported fresh and preserved eggs. The total value of the produce amounted to $5,737 million.

Mining and Quarrying

The Mines and Quarries Division of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering Department enforces legislation relating to mining, quarrying and explosives, and administers quarrying contracts. It processes mining and prospecting applications, and inspects mining and prospecting areas, stone quarries, blasting sites and explosives stores.

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