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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts
also issues and renews licences for places of amusement and in 2014 processed 58 applications for billiard establishments, seven for public bowling alleys and five for public skating rinks.
Parks and Greenery
The LCSD manages 1,544 parks and gardens of different sizes, including 26 major parks. It is responsible for planting and maintaining the plants at the city's public parks, recreational and sports venues, and roadside amenity areas. In 2014, the department planted 2.55 million plants, including trees, shrubs and seasonal flowers, and carried out landscape improvement projects for about 20 hectares of park land and roadside amenity areas.
Hong Kong Park
Hong Kong Park is located at the former military barracks in Central District, occupying an area of about eight hectares. The park, which blends modern design into the natural landscape, features flowing water as its central motif and has artificial waterfalls, streams and ponds. The main features of the park include an aviary, a conservatory, a sports centre, a squash centre, a children's playground, an Olympic Square, a vantage point and a restaurant. The aviary resembles a tropical rainforest in which about 600 birds of 70 different species are kept. In 2014, five bird species in the aviary reared offspring. The conservatory's three sections ('Display Plant House, 'Dry Plant House' and 'Humid Plant House) have adjustable environmental control equipment to simulate different climatic conditions for plants from arid regions and tropical environments. About 50 species of aquatic plants featured in an 'Aquatic Plants' show at the Display Plant House from July to September 2014.
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, developed between 1861 and 1871, is the oldest public garden in Hong Kong and occupies an area of 5.6 hectares overlooking the Central District of Hong Kong. Despite the urban surroundings, the garden provides a conservation centre for endangered species. Eleven endangered species of mammals, birds and reptiles lived there in 2014. The bird collection is one of the most comprehensive in Asia, comprising about 280 birds of 55 species. The mammal collection consists of about 70 animals of 16 species, mainly primates.
More than 900 species of trees, shrubs, creepers and foliage plants thrive in the garden. The medicinal plant collection and a greenhouse have helped to promote public interest in 500 or more species of herbs, orchids, ferns and indoor plants. An education and exhibition centre provides teaching facilities for participants in guided visits and for the display of botanical and zoological specimens.
Country and Marine Parks
Some 40 per cent of Hong Kong's total land area has been designated as country parks and special areas for nature conservation, outdoor recreation and nature education. The 24 country parks and 22 special areas provide extensive hiking trails, barbecue, picnic and camp sites and visitors' centres which attracted about 11.2 million visitors in 2014.
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