The vessel will be a 34.5-metre three-masted sailing junk, with purpose-built facilities for training young people with disabilities. It will be able to accommodate up to 60 trainees on an overnight trip, as well as up to 11 crew members and volunteer assistants from the Adventure-Ship Youth Association. In addition, the new vessel will have significantly reduced maintenance costs through the use of modern design techniques and materials with a design life of at least 50 years.
Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association
The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association (HKYHA) is a pioneer in youth hostels service in Hong Kong.
The HKYHA is affiliated to the International Youth Hostels Federation which runs 4 200 youth hostels in over 80 countries worldwide. Members of HKYHA are entitled to use of all these facilities and related travel information.
The association is a non-profit-making organisation. Its mission is to provide simple and safe hostel style accommodation where its members venture beyond the congestion of the urban areas and enjoy the natural environment.
At present, the HKYHA operates seven hostels, all located in scenic rural parts of Hong Kong. Some of these hostels cater for outdoor education training programs such as basic survival skills or adversity training, leadership camps, and ecological walks through which environmental conservation concepts are promoted. The association's work is also supported by a large volunteer services group organising various outdoor exploration programs on a regular base to promote the well-being of the members.
Country and Marine Park
Some 38 per cent of Hong Kong's total land area has been designated as country parks and special areas for the purpose of nature conservation, outdoor recreation and nature education. The 23 country parks and 15 special areas provide extensive hiking trails, barbecue sites, picnic sites, camp sites and visitor centres which attracted over 11 million visitors in 2004.
There are four marine parks and one marine reserve for the conservation of marine life. In these marine parks, visitors may appreciate and receive educational information on the beauty and diversity of marine life in Hong Kong. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department manages the country parks, special areas, marine parks and marine reserve.
Hong Kong Wetland Park
The Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) Project, located at the southern edge of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, is a millennium capital works project designated by the Government of HKSAR. It upgrades a 61-hectare ecological mitigation area to a world class conservation, education and tourism facility. The project is staged in two phases. The Phase 1 of HKWP was opened to the public in December 2000, serving as an early venue for publicity of the HKWP project and