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.
During the year, the Government's wholesale markets
handled 296 000 tonnes of vegetables, 33 000 tonnes of
poultry, 31 000 tonnes of freshwater fish and fisheries products,
102 000 tonnes of fruit and 47 000 tonnes of eggs. The
total value amounted to $3.9 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 2004, the
organisation handled 237 000 tonnes of vegetables valued at
$784 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 sales
and fees for using the market facilities. Surplus earnings are channelled
back into the industry through the provision of low-interest loans
to fishermen, improved services and facilities in the markets and
scholarships for fishermen and their children.
During the year, 56 900 tonnes of marine fish
valued at $1,520 million were sold through the organisation. In
the interest of protecting public health, the Fish Marketing Organisation
took over the management of the unregulated live marine fish wholesaling
activities at the Aberdeen Promenade. Under the management of the
Organisation, the market has been operating in an orderly and hygienic
manner.
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