Marketing

Much of the wholesale marketing of fresh foods is conducted in
wholesale markets run by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, 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 in fact an integration of several
markets. The Western Complex, for example, accommodates markets for
freshwater fish, vegetables, fruit, poultry and eggs. This allows buyers to
purchase a variety of fresh foods under one roof.

Apart from these market complexes, the department also operates
temporary wholesale markets at North District in the New Territories for
agricultural products, and at Cheung Sha Wan in Kowloon for poultry.
Plans are under way for the development of Phase II of the Cheung Sha
Wan Wholesale Food Market. On completion, it will reprovision the
dilapidated Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and the temporary poultry market at
Cheung Sha Wan.

During the year, the government wholesale markets handled 272 140
tonnes of vegetables, 69 810 tonnes of poultry, 44 370 tonnes of
freshwater fish and fisheries products, 171 780 tonnes of fruit and
60 250 tonnes of fresh and preserved eggs. The total value amounted to
$5.54 billion.

The Vegetable Marketing Organisation is a financially autonomous and
non-profit-making body operated under the Agricultural Products
(Marketing) Ordinance, which also provides for the establishment of a
Marketing Advisory Board to advise the Director of Marketing (currently
the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries). Its primary function is to
provide wholesale marketing facilities to vegetable farmers and
wholesalers. Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of
sales, and surpluses are ploughed back into the development of the
farming industries, and scholarships for farmers' children. During the
year, 239 000 tonnes of vegetables valued at $948 million were sold
through the organisation at its market in Cheung Sha Wan.

The Fish Marketing Organisation operates under the Marine Fish
(Marketing) Ordinance which also provides for the establishment of a
Fish Marketing Advisory Board. It operates seven wholesale fish markets.
Revenue comes from a commission on the proceeds of sales. Surplus
earnings are channelled back into the industry in the form of services
such as low-interest loans to fishermen, improvements to the markets
and financial support for schools and scholarships for fishermen's
children. In 1997, 47 800 tonnes of marine fish valued at $464 million
were sold through the organisation.

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