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The Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Marion Lai, today (April 20) visited Guangzhou and met officials in charge of fisheries policies to reflect Hong Kong fishermen's views on developing capture fisheries in Mainland waters.
She met the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Fishery Administration and Fishing Port Superintendence in the South China Sea Region of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Guo Jinfu, and officials of the Guangdong Provincial Oceanic and Fishery Administration and the Hong Kong and Macao Floating Fishermen's Business Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province. At the meeting, Mrs Lai exchanged views with her Mainland counterparts on ways to enhance liaison and co-operation on fisheries development between the two places. Issues including floating fishing vessel management and sustainable fishing operations were also discussed.
Mrs Lai also took the opportunity to brief Mainland officials that to protect precious marine resources and ecology, the Hong Kong SAR Government proposed legislation to ban non-selective trawling operations from further damaging the seabed and affecting adversely other marine resources.
"After the announcement of the initiative, a number of Hong Kong fishermen reflected to us their wish to continue their operations by fishing in the South China Sea after trawling is banned in Hong Kong waters. Some are even considering switching to other modes of operation or to operate in fishing grounds in which fisheries resources are still being developed," she said.
At the meeting, Mrs Lai noted that most Hong Kong trawlers have already obtained capture permits issued by the Mainland authorities and operate in Mainland waters from time to time. The Hong Kong SAR Government reflected to the Mainland authorities local fishermen's views, in the hope that the authorities could possibly offer assistance to Hong Kong fishermen and let them continue their capture fisheries operations in Mainland waters.
Meanwhile, Mrs Lai also learned more about the feasibility and relevant requirements for a trawler to switch to other modes of operation under a scheme of controlling the total number and engine power of capture vessels in the Mainland.
Joining Mrs Lai on the visit were the Principal Assistant Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Miss Diane Wong, and the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Fisheries), Dr So Ping-man.
Ends/Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:39
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