ENG-2002 — Page 234

FOOD SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

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feeders, such as green-lipped mussels, to trap and remove organic wastes, thereby improving the water quality. The trial biofilters were placed in the fish culture zone in Kau Sai at the end of April. The study will also investigate the value of green-lipped mussels from local fish culture zones for human consumption and marketing.

In view of the growing public interest in recreational fishing and the requests by some mariculturists that visitors be allowed to engage in recreational fishing on their fish rafts, the AFCD started a trial scheme on recreational fishing in two fish culture zones in Yung Shue Au and Kau Sai. The department will consider extending the scheme to other fish culture zones having regard to the result of the pioneer operations.

The department continues to implement its red tide monitoring and management measures with a view to minimising the impact of red tides on mariculture. The monitoring effort includes a proactive phytoplankton monitoring before the formation of a red tide and rapid risk assessments of red tide incidents reported. A computerised system with Geographic Information System technology helps visualise the spatial and temporal distribution of red tides and provides a quick analysis of their development and movement. Red tide warnings are disseminated to mariculturists and the public through the red tide support groups set up in different fish culture zones, press releases and the AFCD website.

Marketing

Much fresh food produce is sold in wholesale markets managed by the AFCD, 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 an integration of several markets. The Western Wholesale Food Market, for example, accommodates markets for freshwater fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs and allows buyers to purchase a variety of fresh food produce under one roof. Apart from these market complexes, the AFCD also manages two temporary wholesale markets, one in North District and the other in Cheung Sha Wan, for vegetables and poultry respectively. The plan for the development of Phase II of the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market is being reviewed in the light of views expressed by the trade associations concerned.

During the year, the Government's wholesale markets handled 314 000 tonnes of vegetables, 62 000 tonnes of poultry, 40 000 tonnes of freshwater fish and fisheries products, 121 000 tonnes of fruit and 54 000 tonnes of eggs. The total value amounted to $4.5 billion.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is established as a non-governmental body providing vegetable wholesale marketing facilities. It operates a vegetable wholesale market at Cheung Sha Wan, set up under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance on a non-profit-making basis. It charges commission on the vegetables sold and in return provides trading facilities, transport, accounting, and pesticides residue testing services to farmers and traders. Any surplus is ploughed back into the development of farming and the provision of scholarships for farmers' children. In 2002, the organisation handled 263 360 tonnes of vegetables valued at $793 million. The Fish Marketing Organisation is a statutory body established under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance. It provides orderly marketing services at its seven wholesale markets. Revenue comes from charging commission on the proceeds of