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CONSERVATION IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES:
FRAGMENTS OF PARADISE
OUR COMMENTS ON THE REPORT AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. FLORA (P. 139): THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO
A MEMBER OF THE IUCN'S BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION COORDINATING BODY AND HAS EFFECTED THE PROPAGATION OF RARE PLANT SPECIES, INCLUDING THE 2 CAMELLIA SPECIES MENTIONED.
2.
FAUNA AND BIRDS (P. 140): THE STATEMENT THAT ''TRAPPING OF BIRDS FOR FOOD, ORNAMENTAL PURPOSES AND TRADE REMAINS A PROBLEM IN HONG KONG' IS INCORRECT. IN FACT HUNTING AND TRAPPING HAVE BEEN
I
PROHIBITED IN HONG KONG SINCE 1981. THE REFERENCE QUOTED IS OUTDATED.
3. CONSERVATION SITUATION (P
141): THE COMMENTS ON BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS (I.E POLLUTION) ARE OUT OF DATE. RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLLUTION CONTROLS WAS CONSOLIDATED IN THE NEW ENVIROMENTAL
PROTECTION DEPARTMENT EPD IN APRIL 1986. EPD NOW HAS CONSIDERABLE
ENFORCEMENT POWERS AND IS ALSO REPRESENTED ON THE APPROPRIATE PLANN-
ING COMMITTEES.
4. PROTECTED AREA (P. 142):
(A) ALTHOUGH YIM TSO HA COULD BE CALLED A ''NATURE RESERVE' IS,
IT
STRICTLY SPEAKING, A SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST AND AN
AREA IN WHICH ENTRY IS RESTRICTED FROM 1 APRIL TO 30 SEPTEMBER
ANNUALLY UNDER THE WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION ORDINANCE (CAP. 170)
(B) THERE ARE NOW 47 SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST.
(C) IN ADDITION TO ITS RECOGNITION AS AN SSSI IN 1976, THE MAI PO MARSHES WAS DECLARED AS A RESTRICTED AREA IN 1975 UNDER THE WILD BIRDS AND WILD MAMMALS ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE WILD ANIMALS PROTECTION ORDINANCE, CAP. 170 IN 1976.
·
5. CONSERVATION CONCERNS (P 142): IT IS NOT CORRECT TO SAY THAT
THERE IS A CONTINUED HABITAT DESTRUCTION OF THE MAI PO MARSHES.
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