216
THE ENVIRONMENT
Equally inconclusive was a widespread search, in June, for the cause of an incident which affected school children in the Sau Mau Ping and Lam Tin areas in the industrial district of Kwun Tong. Complaints by pupils of feeling ill, apparently due to obnoxious odours, were received over a period of three days. This led to a thorough search and tests in the area for possible sources. A special task force was mobilised from the staff of various government departments - including the Government Chemist, and the Medical and Health, Fire Services, Labour and Urban Services departments and co-ordinated by the En- vironment Branch. However, the task force uncovered no evidence to confidently pinpoint any harmful substance in the air. The pupils' symptoms of illness were not sustained and various hypotheses of mass hysteria, triggered off by a transient bad odour, were advanced to explain the incident.
-
As a result of the investigations in Kwai Chung and Kwun Tong, the government is planning to streamline the response procedures in cases of this nature, as well as under- taking long-term studies of the areas to enable better controls and easier identification of sources should future incidents occur.
Conservation and Countryside Management
Hong Kong's hilly topography has ensured the survival of a relatively large expanse of countryside, much of which is scenically very attractive. Steep and rugged slopes rise from sea-level to 600 and 900 metres and feature rocky crags, wooded ravines with rushing streams, and open hillsides. Some 20 freshwater reservoirs of various sizes nestle among the hills, giving additional charm to the scenery.
About three-quarters of Hong Kong's land area consists of hills and the vegetation on them includes grass, scrub, and some 125 square kilometres of woodland - much of it the result of afforestation programmes. The woodlands not only make the countryside more beautiful but are important in the management of water catchments.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department is the principal government agency responsible for conserving the territory's countryside. The Country Parks Ordinance, which came into effect in early 1976, provides for the designation, control and management of the most important areas of countryside as country parks, and enables them to be developed for recreational purposes. It also gives particular protection to vegetation and wildlife. There are now 21 country parks throughout Hong Kong, covering about 40 per cent of the land area.
Within these country parks, recreational amenities include picnic and barbecue places, waymarked walks, shelters, toilets, and information and educational services. Road access is also being improved to enable park staff to deal more effectively with fires and litter the most serious problems created by visitors.
The department also has the responsibility for protecting the flora and fauna throughout the whole of Hong Kong. The Forests and Countryside Ordinance provides for the general protection and management of vegetation, and special protection is given to certain plants - including native camellias, magnolias, orchids, azaleas and the Chinese New Year Flower. While most of the countryside has been covered by some form of prohibition on the hunting of birds, wild animals and the carrying of firearms, an amendment to the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance in 1980, provided further protection for Hong Kong's fauna by imposing a ban on hunting by all members of the public. This ban was instituted for reasons of public safety, due to the growing popularity of the countryside for recrea- tional purposes, and the spread of urbanisation both leaving very few areas, if any, that are suitable for hunting.
---