ENG-2002 — Page 231

FOOD SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

Public Education

The FEHD operates the Health Education Exhibition and Resource Centre in Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, and the Communication Resource Centre at the Public Health Laboratory Centre in Shek Kip Mei to educate the public on the importance of food safety and environmental hygiene through exhibits and library materials.

Outreaching programmes, including school talks and educational activities, are organised to disseminate messages on personal hygiene, food safety and measures that help to maintain a hygienic living environment. During the year, 1 749 health talks were held for food handlers, school children, the elderly, new arrivals and other members of the public.

Primary Production

Agriculture and fisheries industries are relatively small sectors in Hong Kong. The 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. Instead, the AFCD focuses on helping the industries to improve the quality of their output and enhance their productivity and competitiveness.

During the year, the total production of the industries was valued at $2,860 million. It accounted for 5 per cent of vegetables, 43 per cent of cut flowers, 26 per cent of live pigs, 26 per cent of live poultry, 4 per cent of freshwater fish and 32 per cent of seafood sold locally. Approximately 19 400 people were employed directly in the industries. The overall output of the local agriculture and fisheries industries has remained relatively stable over the past few years.

The Agriculture Industry

Local agriculture is directed towards the production of high quality fresh food crops. through intensive land use. Farming is largely undertaken in the New Territories and just 2.3 per cent of the land area is under cultivation. Overall, the most common crops cultivated are vegetables and cut flowers, and production was valued at about $332 million in 2002. Pigs and poultry are the principal animals reared for food and the value of locally produced pigs amounted to $584 million and that of poultry, including chickens, pigeons and quails, to $247 million.

Agricultural Development

As a result of limited supply of farm land and labour, competition from imports, raised environmental standards and calls for improved farm hygiene and safe produce, the local agriculture industry has to adapt rapidly to sustain its long-term development.

Crop farmers are encouraged to target specific niche markets by cultivating safe quality vegetables. To help farmers capture these specific niches, the AFCD initiated an organic farming conversion programme in two local farming districts. A close working relationship has been maintained with the local organic farming industry and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation to develop organic farming and the market for organic vegetables in Hong Kong. The AFCD also completed studies on intensive greenhouse production for local adaptation. In addition, two new vegetable varieties. suitable for local production - white bitter cucumber and garden pea were

introduced.

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