FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1976
THREE COUNTRY PARKS PROPOSED
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THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY, SET UP UNDER THE RECENTLY ENACTED COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE, HAS PREPARED DRAFT MAPS OF THE FIRST THREE COUNTRY PARKS.
THE PLACES MAPPED OUT FOR USE AS COUNTRY PARKS ARE AREAS SURROUNDING THE SHING MUN RESERVOIR (TSUEN WAN), A PART OF LION ROCK (KOWLOON) LANDSCAPE AND LAND ROUND BOTH THE KOWLOON AND SHEK LI PUI RESERVOIRS.
A NOTICE GIVING GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE AREAS AND DETAILS OF WHERE THE MAPS MAY BE INSPECTED WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.
THE NOTICE STIPULATES THAT ANY PERSON, WHO IS AGGRIEVED BY THE DRAFT MAPS MAY, WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM TODAY, RAISE THE IR OBJECTIONS BY WRITING TO THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD AT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, 393 CANTON ROAD.
IF NO OBJECTION IS RECEIVED WITHIN THIS PERIOD, THE AUTHORITY WILL RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL THAT THE THREE AREAS BE DESIGNATED AS COUNTRY PARKS.
FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE TODAY NO NEW DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS BUILDING, ENGINEERING, MINING OR OTHER SIMILAR OPERATIONS, WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE PROPOSED AREAS WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE AUTHORITY, APART FROM THOSE FOR WHICH APPROVAL HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN.
HOWEVER, MAINTENANCE WORKS, REPAIR WORKS AND THE USE OF THE LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
ALSO, IF IT APPEARS THAT THE USE OR PROPOSED USE OF LEASE LAND WITHIN A COUNTRY PARK WOULD REDUCE THE ENJOYMENT AND AMENITIES OF THE COUNTRY PARK, THE AUTHORITY MAY REQUEST THE LAND AUTHORITY TO HAVE IT STOPPED OR MODIFIED.
OWNERS OR DEVELOPERS OF THE LAND CONCERNED, WHO ARE REFUSED PERMISSION TO CARRY OUT NEW DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ALLOWED OR WHO ARE ORDERED TO STOP OR MODIFY THE PROPOSED USE OF THE LAND, CAN CLAIM COMPENSATION.
THE ORDINANCE ALSO ENABLES THE GOVERNOR TO EXCLUDE FROM ANY COUNTRY PARK OR SPECIAL AREA CERTAIN BUILDINGS SUCH AS TRADITIONAL BURIAL GROUNDS, TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ENACTED EARLY THIS YEAR AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S LONG-RANGE PLANS TO PROVIDE MORE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POPULATION, THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY (DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PARKS AND SPECIAL AREAS.
/HE IS