RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
handling procedures and first aid training were also offered to HKYHA members in co-operation with outside organisations.
Provisional Urban Council Parks
Zoological and Botanical Gardens
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the oldest public gardens in Hong Kong, occupy a 5.4-hectare site overlooking Central. They were established between 1861 and 1871. Divided by Albany Road, the eastern or 'old' garden houses an extensive bird collection while the western 'new' garden, opened in 1871, is home to mammal and reptile exhibits. The botanical section is mainly in the old garden.
The gardens house 18 endangered species of mammal, bird and reptile. Despite the urban environment, the gardens provide a viable conservation centre for endangered species. The bird collection is one of the most comprehensive in Asia, with 653 birds. of 207 species, more than 100 of which have reared offspring. The mammal collection includes such diverse creatures as the echidna and the jaguar. More than 750 species of tree, shrub, creeper and foliage plant thrive in the gardens, and the medicinal plant collection, established in 1987, and a new greenhouse built in 1993 have generated particular interest. These facilities contain about 500 species of herb, orchid, fern, cactus, succulent and other indoor plant. There are continuing programmes to upgrade the animal enclosures and facilities in the gardens.
Provisional Regional Council Parks
In 1999, the Provisional Regional Council managed more than 552 parks and gardens of various sizes, including nine major parks in the New Territories.
Country and Marine Parks
Some 38 per cent of Hong Kong's total land area has been designated as country parks. Altogether, Hong Kong had 23 country parks in 1999, which provided barbecue sites, picnic sites, camp sites and extensive hiking trails for over 10 million visitors.
In recent years the Government has established three parks and one reserve for the conservation of marine life. In these marine parks, visitors may appreciate and receive educational information on the beauty and diversity of life in Hong Kong waters. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department managed both the country and the marine parks in 1999.
Horticulture and Landscape Services
Provisional Urban Council
The Provisional Urban Council was responsible for improving the urban environment with landscape and tree preservation. The services which it provided included landscape design and planting, plant production, horticultural research, tree maintenance and conservation. During the year, the council completed 40 landscape projects and planted about 12 000 trees, 30 000 seedings and 1.2 million flowering shrubs and annuals. About 90 per cent of these plants were supplied by the council's nurseries, with the balance coming from commercial nurseries.
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