ENG-2006 — Page 236

192 Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries

The department continues to monitor red tides to protect the mariculture industry. The preventive measures include phytoplankton monitoring which enables the department to detect red tides as they begin to form and to make a quick assessment of the damage they might cause. Red tide warnings are issued to the mariculturists through the support groups at the fish culture zones. They are also posted on the AFCD's website and disseminated through press releases. In 2006, a total of 14 red tides were recorded in Hong Kong waters.

Wholesale Markets

Fresh food produce is sold in wholesale markets managed by the AFCD, the Vegetable Marketing Organisation, the Fish Marketing Organisation and the private sector. During the year, the Government's wholesale markets handled 245 000 tonnes of vegetables, 30 000 tonnes of poultry, 46 000 tonnes of freshwater fish and fisheries products, 105 000 tonnes of fruit and 54 000 tonnes of eggs with a combined valued of $3.9 billion.

The Western Wholesale Food Market and the Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market are the two largest market complexes built and managed by the department. Each contains several markets. The Western Wholesale Food Market, for example, accommodates markets for freshwater fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs, enabling customers to buy a wide range of fresh foods under one roof.

The AFCD also manages two temporary wholesale markets, in the North District for fresh vegetables, and in Cheung Sha Wan, for live poultry.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is 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 pesticide residue testing services to farmers and traders. Any surplus income is ploughed back into the development of farming and the provision of scholarships for farmers' children. In 2006, the organisation handled 202 000 tonnes of vegetables valued at $803 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 commissions from fish sales and from fees charged for the use of the market's facilities. Surplus earnings are channelled back to the industry by way of providing low-interest loans to fishermen, improving the markets' services and facilities and providing training grants and scholarships for the fishermen and their children. During the year, 55 000 tonnes of marine fish valued at $1,500 million were sold through the organisation. The organisation continues to develop quality fisheries products at its processing centre to help promote and market the local product under the Hong Kong brand name.