ENG-1995 — Page 164

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Marketing

Much wholesale marketing of fresh foods is conducted in markets run by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the Vegetable Marketing Organisation and the Fish Marketing Organisation. The Western Wholesale Food Market and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market Phase I are the two biggest market complexes developed and managed by the department. Each is in fact an integration of several markets. The Western Complex, for example, accommodates markets for freshwater fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs. This allows buyers to purchase a variety of fresh foods under one roof.

Apart from these market complexes, the department also operates temporary wholesale markets at North District in the New Territories for agricultural products, and at Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon for poultry. Plans are under way for the development of Phase II of the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market. On completion, it will reprovision the dilapidated Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and the temporary poultry market at Cheung Sha Wan.

During the year, the government wholesale markets handled 270 440 tonnes of local and imported vegetables, 79 290 tonnes of local and imported poultry, 45 460 tonnes of local and imported freshwater fish and fisheries products, 148 560 tonnes of imported fruit and 63 670 tonnes of imported fresh and preserved eggs. The total value amounted to $5,782 million.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is a financially autonomous and non-profit- making body operated under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, which also provides for the establishment of a Marketing Advisory Board to advise the Director of Marketing (currently the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its primary function is to provide wholesale marketing facilities to local vegetable farmers and wholesalers. Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of sales, and surpluses are ploughed back into the development of marketing services and the farming industries, and scholarships for farmers' children. During the year, 23 470 tonnes of vegetables valued at $976 million were sold through the organisation at Cheung Sha Wan.

The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance which also provides for the establishment of a Fish Marketing Advisory Board. The organisation operates seven wholesale fish markets, earning 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 and financial support for schools and scholarships for fishermen's children. In 1995, 53 700 tonnes of marine fish valued at $540 million were sold through the organisation.

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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