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The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, today (May 16) met fishermen representatives led by the legislator representing agriculture and fisheries sector Mr Wong Yung-kan to further explain details of the proposed loan schemes for fishermen announced last week.
At the meeting, Dr Chow noted the difficult operating environment faced by the fishermen in recent years and the need to conserve fisheries resources. He told representatives that the Government intended to offer loans totalling $250 million in addition to existing loans to fishermen and fish farmers to help tide them over the annual fishing moratorium and assist them to pursue alternative modes of operation.
Consultation with the Legislative Council's Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene on the proposals would be held later this month and funding approval by the Finance Committee would be sought next month.
Of the $250 million, $190 million will be injected into the Fisheries Development Loan Fund. Out of the $190 million, $150 million will be set aside as loans for fishermen to pursue sustainable fisheries or related operations, such as offshore fishing so as to conserve fisheries resources.
The remaining $60 million would be injected into the Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund so the fund would have sufficient capital to provide low interest loans to fishermen affected by the moratorium in South China Sea. Fishermen may use the fund to meet their needs during the moratorium period and to make preparation for resuming fishing operations after the moratorium, including purchasing fuel.
Dr Chow said the proposed injection amount was sufficient to cope with the needs of the trade.
As for the trade's request for fuel subsidy, Dr Chow said the diesel oil used by fishing vessels was duty-free industrial marked diesel oil and its price was far below the market price of diesel oil. Therefore, the Government should not further subsidise the trade for fuel as it would be unfair to other trades which were also affected by the hiking oil price.
"We will continue to provide technical support, to arrange training and study tours and to liaise with overseas and mainland units to gauge relevant information to assist fishermen to pursue sustainable fisheries or switch to other trades," Dr Chow said.
Ends/Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:56
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