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FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1976
COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE EFFECTIVE FROM MONDAY
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THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE 1976, WHICH PROVIDES FOR AREAS OF HONG KONG COUNTRYSIDE SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT TO BE SET ASI DE AS COUNTRY PARKS WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON MONDAY (AUGUST 16), ACCORDING TO THE GAZETTE TODAY.
IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR ANY AREA OF CROWN LAND WHETHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE A COUNTRY PARK, TO BE SET ASIDE AS A SPECIAL AREA, AGAIN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, A BOARD, CONSISTING OF SIX OFFICIALS AND TEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, HAS BEEN SET UP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. IT REPLACES THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATURE CONSERVATION,
THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD IS AS FOLLOWS :
CHAIRMAN DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
OFFICIAL MEMBERS DIRECTOR OF LANDS AND SURVEY, DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES,
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS MRS. MADELINE TANG, MR. J.H. BREMRIDGE, PROFESSOR L.B. THROWER, MR. A. DONALD YAP, MR. R.S. SHELDON, MR. R. HUTCHEON, MR. CIM. LEUNG, MR. WOO TING-SANG, MR. WILLIAM W.T. HSU AND MR. LEE KWAN-CHUNG,
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WILL BE THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF COUNTRY PARKS AND SPECIAL AREAS.
IT WILL BE HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR THE AREAS TO BE DESIGNATED AS COUNTRY PARKS OR SPECIAL AREAS.
IN ADDITION, IT WILL BE HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT THE VEGETATION AND WILD-LIFE INSIDE THE PARKS OR AREAS AND TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN BUILDINGS AND SITES OF HISTORICAL OR CULTURAL INTEREST. HE WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY PARKS AND SPECIAL AREAS FOR RECREATION AND TOURISM AND PROVIDE SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT.
THE ORDINANCE PRESCRIBES PROCEDURES FOR THE DESIGNATION OF COUNTRY PARKS AND SPECIAL AREAS. THERE ARE STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR OBJECTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
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