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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts
department also issues and renews licences for places of amusement. In 2015, it processed 54 applications for billiard establishments, eight for public bowling alleys and five for public skating rinks.
Parks and Greenery
The LCSD manages 1,567 parks and gardens of different sizes, including 26 major parks. It is responsible for planting and maintaining plants at the public parks, recreational and sports venues, and roadside amenity areas. In 2015, the department planted 2.08 million plants, including trees, shrubs and seasonal flowers, and carried out landscape improvement projects for about 12 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. Its main features 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 2015, three bird species in the aviary reared offspring. The conservatory's three sections, namely, the 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 20 common species of winter flowering plants were featured in a Winter Flowering Plants exhibition at the Display Plant House from December 2014 to January 2015.
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, developed between 1861 and 1871, is the territory's oldest public garden and occupies 5.6 hectares overlooking Central. Despite the urban surroundings, the garden provides a conservation centre for endangered species. Eleven endangered species of mammals, birds and reptiles lived there in 2015. The bird collection is one of the most comprehensive in Asia, comprising about 260 birds of 51 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 is 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 13.2 million people in 2015.
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