ENG-1999 — Page 178

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CHAPTER 8

Primary Production

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AGRICULTURE and fisheries industries are relatively small sectors in Hong Kong. Farming is largely undertaken in the New Territories and just 2.4 per cent of the land area is under cultivation. In 1999, the total production of the industries was valued at $2,910 million. It also accounted for 12 per cent of vegetables, 57 per cent of cut flowers, 22 per cent of live pigs, 18 per cent of live poultry, 10 per cent of freshwater fish and 54 per cent of live and fresh marine fish sold locally. Approximately 22 110 people are employed directly in the industries.

The HKSAR Government does not give direct subsidies to the local agriculture and fisheries industries or attempt to protect them from the free operation of market forces. However, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department* in 1999 continued to provide infrastructural and technical support to facilitate the development of the industries, including provision of wholesale marketing facilities, extension, technical and diagnostic services, and administration of agricultural and fisheries loans.

Output of local farms has remained relatively stable over the past five years with the exception of the livestock and poultry industries. The number of pigs produced locally has doubled during this period. But the production of chickens on local farms was below the level attained before the outbreak of avian influenza in 1997. Local production statistics are given in the Appendices.

The fisheries industry faced new challenges in 1999. During June and July, the Mainland fisheries authority imposed a two-month fishing moratorium in the South China Sea to conserve fisheries resources. About 1 350 Hong Kong fishing vessels were affected. To alleviate the difficulties encountered by the industry, the Government assisted the affected fishermen through the provision of support services, social security grants and low-interest loans.

The Agricultural Industry

Local agriculture is directed towards the production of high quality fresh food crops through intensive land use. Overall, the most common food and non-food crops cultivated are leafy vegetables and high-value cut flowers. Production was valued at about $443 million. Pigs and poultry are the principal animals reared for food. The value of locally produced pigs in 1999 amounted to $587 million and that of poultry, including chickens, ducks, pigeons and quail, amounted to $211 million.

* The department has been renamed the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department with effect

from January 1, 2000.