Fishermen's fund plea sinks
Calls by fishermen for more money to cover their losses because of the South China Sea fishing ban were dismissed by officials yesterday.
And no further loans would be given to fishermen if similar bans were imposed in future, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department said.
'The loan is offered only this year, as the ban was imposed at short notice,' senior fisheries management officer Dr Leung Siu-fai said.
He made the comments after a group of fishermen voiced their grievances about the lack of financial assistance offered by the Government during the ban.
The central Government imposed a two-month fishing ban on the South China Sea, which ends on Saturday. Fishermen now fear the ban will become an annual event.
Special loans to fishermen affected by the moratorium were offered to ease their hardship during the period.
The petitioners hoped the loan could be offered every year, and a fund would be set up.
The legislator representing the fishing industry, Wong Yung-kan, argued that the loans offered were insufficient.
Fisherman Kwok Yung-sing said he could not afford the maintenance fee during the ban period and Lunar New Year when the ships were not in operation.
Legislative Councillor Andrew Wong Wang-fat, who was present at the protest, said the fishermen's request was reasonable.
But Dr Leung argued that reference material and data had been collected from the fishing industry when setting up the loan and funding limits.
