This has been a productive and successful year for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), with many new initiatives showing great progress.
In fisheries, 2005-06 saw the launch of the Accredited Fish Farm Scheme, which helps produce more high quality fisheries products and enhances the competitiveness of the local aquaculture industry. Under this innovative new scheme, participating fish farms adopt a set of good aquaculture practices in return for official accreditation of their fish and marketing assistance.
Likewise, the Department has made good progress with its “Organic Farming Support Service”, which offers knowledge, technical support and low-interest loans to help farmers move to organic practices. Working with the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre, the Department also renders support to develop and implement certification standards for organic production and processing in Hong Kong. Such certification will help local farmers more effectively meet the growing market demand for organic vegetables, while also providing members of the public with the peace of mind and confidence they need.
Against the backdrop of these successes, avian influenza (AI) continues to be of serious concern to all members of the community. Since October 2005, the Department has engaged in a comprehensive surveillance programme, including the collection of debilitated and dead birds for AI testing in veterinary laboratory. Fecal samples are also collected regularly for testing from bird parks throughout Hong Kong.
In response to the increasingly pathogenic nature of the AI virus, the Department launched the Voluntary Surrender Scheme for Livestock Farm Licences, which provides compensation to poultry farmers who do not wish to operate under the threat of AI. To further minimise contact between humans and livestock, we have also stepped up patrols of villages in the New Territories to enforce the ban on backyard poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and quails.
Collectively, these frontline efforts are playing a key role in keeping an AI epidemic at bay. We are also working closely with our counterparts in the Mainland as well as in countries and regions throughout Asia. While the threat cannot be entirely eliminated, we remain dedicated to doing our utmost to keep Hong Kong’s people and its economy safe.
On a happier note, the Department’s tireless planning and preparatory work culminated in the successful opening of the Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) in May 2006. This important new facility for tourism and conservation education features an interactive visitor centre and 60 hectares of wetland reserve. Its opening marks a major milestone in the Department’s efforts to conserve and protect Hong Kong’s rich bio-diversity for future generations.
The Department continued to conduct baseline surveys concerning Hong Kong’s biodiversity in country parks, leading to a number of important new findings. We also renovated the Medicinal Plant Garden in the Lions Education Centre to strengthen public education on traditional Chinese medicinal plants.
Efforts to promote the appreciation of nature and marine conservation continued during the year, and we are pleased to see growing public interest and involvement in this undertaking.
These events and much more are detailed in the following chapters. I would like to thank everyone in the Department, as well as our many collaborative partners and volunteers, for their hard work and dedication in making 2005-06 such a successful year.
Stella Hung
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
This has been a productive and successful year for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), with many new initiatives showing great progress.