Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ8: Agricultural and fisheries development
Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(November 12):
Question:
In connection with fostering the development of the agricultural and fisheries
industries, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) apart from zoning lands for agricultural uses under the Town Planning
Ordinance (Cap. 131) and strictly regulating changes of agricultural land use,
of other proactive measures currently in place to encourage the industry to
rehabilitate abandoned agricultural lands and to increase the income of farmers;
(b) whether it will, by making reference to the successful experience of Japan
and Taiwan, proactively examine the establishment of an agricultural development
fund to assist the agricultural industry in transforming into one which adopts
advanced and new technologies and yields high value-added agricultural produce;
(c) how it assists local farmers in opening up sales channels for organic
produce;
(d) whether it will consider implementing a pilot scheme to set up quality
mariculture farms in vacant industrial buildings; and
(e) given that it advised, in a paper submitted to this Council in May this
year, that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department planned to set
up an experimental hatchery to develop fry hatching and breeding techniques,
when such hatchery will be set up?
Reply:
President,
Our reply to the question raised by Hon Cheung Hok-ming is as follows:
(a) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has been
promoting agricultural land rehabilitation and providing further services in
this regard. When a farmer or any member of the community indicates interest in
the rehabilitation of abandoned agricultural land, AFCD will gather and provide
information about the agricultural land concerned for his reference. A meeting
with the land owner will then be arranged for both sides to discuss face-to-face
the tenure arrangement. When the farmer starts land preparation, he can hire a
tractor from AFCD to plough the land. The farmer may also borrow other
agricultural machines, such as cultivator, brush cutter and branch breaker free
of charge from AFCD. Furthermore, he may apply for a low-interest loan and seek
technical farming support from AFCD.
(b) The Government has set up the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) under the
Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO) to support local agriculture. As at April
1, 2008, ADF has a total fund of HK$130 million. In 2007-08, ADF allocated HK$21
million for various projects promoting agricultural research and development,
such as promoting organic farming, providing financial grants to the Hong Kong
Organic Resources Centre for its operation, improving the market facilities of
VMO and organising the Farmfest for the promotion of local agricultural
products.
(c) Since 2000, AFCD has been actively providing assistance to local
agricultural sector in developing organic farming through the provision of
technical support to local organic farms on pest and disease control,
horticultural practices, soil management and seed saving. AFCD has also been
assisting the trade through VMO to develop the market for organic food. There
are now more than 30 organic vegetable retail outlets under the VMO marketing
network, including large supermarkets, MTR shops, health food stores and the
Lions Nature Education Centre outlet at Tsiu Hang, Sai Kung. In addition, AFCD
has been actively working with various organisations towards diversifying
marketing channels, an example of which is to help the Federation of Vegetable
Marketing Co-operative Societies Ltd set up weekend farmers' markets. Besides,
AFCD has been assisting the trade in organising large-scale promotional
activities, such as the annual Farmfest, with a view to enabling the public to
have a better understanding of the local organic products and to establish
contacts with the local farmers so that they may continue to buy organic
products from these farmers in future.
(d) We understand that there is already an indoor aquaculture farm located in an
industrial building in Hong Kong. The farm aims to culture mainly high value
marine fish like high-finned grouper through the application of indoor
aquaculture technologies and systems, including recirculatory filtration and
disinfection systems, as well as good practices in aquaculture management. The
farm's mode of operation can serve as a reference for the trade. The Government
will provide assistance in the form of technical support, training and loans to
any fish farmers interested in developing indoor aquaculture farms.
(e) AFCD is committed to assisting local fish farmers in upgrading and
developing fish fry hatching and breeding techniques through the provision of
technical support, training and trial schemes in collaboration with fish
farmers. To step up efforts in this area, AFCD has set up experimental hatchery
facilities at Ta Kwu Ling in mid-2008 to facilitate research in fish fry
hatching and breeding techniques. In September 2008, it organised a training
course on grouper hatching jointly with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in
Asia-Pacific at Ta Kwu Ling to provide the necessary knowledge and techniques to
local fish farmers, fishermen and people interested in the research and
development of fish fry hatching and breeding, so as to further promote the
development of fish fry hatching and breeding in Hong Kong.
Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:21
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