THE ENVIRONMENT
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also crowded. Some visitors go to popular locations which have catering facilities, others prefer to picnic near their means of transport, while a lesser but still sub- stantial number prefer to walk in the hills, picnic and camp. In effect, almost the whole of the countryside is used like a national park. This means that in Hong Kong the conservation of the countryside must go hand in hand with development of recreational opportunities.
For this reason the government adopted a broad development plan in 1972 for recreation and nature conservation. During the past year planning and design work has progressed and in certain localities additional picnic facilities have already been provided, initially in the Shing Mun Country Park near Tsuen Wan, and in the Tai Tam area of Hong Kong Island. Towards the end of the year the former Hong Kong Island Advisory Committee for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation was merged with that of the New Territories, and reformed under the chairmanship of the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The main aim of the development plan is to provide a series of country parks to enable large numbers of visitors to enjoy outdoor recreation in a country environ- ment-adjacent to urban areas if possible. Some may be further from the towns, but on main roads already heavily used by holidaymakers. Conservation and forestry staff who manage these parks will also look after adjacent tracts of more open and less heavily used countryside to offer visitors as full a range of recreational oppor- tunities as possible and provide protection for a high proportion of hill country.
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Generally areas to be developed as country parks will have to cater for certain existing uses in addition to recreation. The most common of these are, the collection of fresh water supplies for Hong Kong's reservoirs, or meeting traditional village rights for fodder, grazing and fuel. Recreation itself brings problems of access and control of motor traffic, so in most cases the park planner is faced with a complex situation in which it is not possible to make sudden or dramatic progress.
The proposed park areas are not the only ones popular with visitors and there- fore in need of careful management. Best example of one of these areas is Bride's Pool, north of Plover Cove, which has attracted large and increasing numbers of visitors since it became accessible by road about 10 years ago. Fires and erosion have caused much damage and littering is a big problem. In February 1973 the government agreed that the Agriculture and Fisheries Department's countryside management services should be extended to Bride's Pool and to the surrounding block of countryside. Approval was given for the establishment of two management centres with necessary staff and equipment. An advance party of staff started work in July 1973.
On the recommendation of the New Territories Advisory Committee, Mai Po Marshes was scheduled under the provisions of the Wild Birds and Wild Mammals Protection Ordinance on March 23, 1973. This prohibits hunting and the carrying of firearms in that area, which is generally considered one of Hong Kong's most important wetland habitats.