FRIDAY, JANUARY 14,
1977
COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMME TO COPE WITH
+PECREATIONAL REVOLUTION+
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THE COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMME HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO COPE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PRCELEMS CREATED BY A RECREATIONAL REVOLUTION, + THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY.
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WHICH WILL
AND THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT THE PROGRAMME BE IN FULL SWING IN THE COMING YEAR WOULD HELP TO HALT THE +REAR AND TEAR+ ON THE COUNTRYSIDE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES CAUSED BY AN INCREASING NUMBER OF LEISURE-SEEKERS, HE ADDED.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF KOWLOON, MR. CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A REMARKABLE REVOLUTION IN THE LEISURE HABITS OF THE POPULATION, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE YOUNG, OVER THE LAST 10-15 YEARS.
+WHEN I FIRST KNEW THE NEW TERRITORIES, JUST OVER 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS RARE INDEED TO SEE PARTIES OF HIKERS AND PICNICKERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, + HE SAID.
+BUT THIS HAS NOW COMPLETELY CHANGED, AND EVERY SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY VAST NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GO OUT BY EVERY AVAILABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORT - BUS, TRAIN, CAR, FERRY AND ON FOOT - TC ENJOY THE FRESH AIR AND OPEN SPACE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.+
THIS WAS A VERY WELCOME DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID, BUT IT INEVITABLY CAUSED PROBLEMS. +QUITE APART FROM THE LITTER PROBLEMS AND THE PRESSURE ON THE VARIOUS MEANS OF TRANSPORT, THE COUNTRYSIDE ITSELF IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR AND TEAR FROM HEAVY USE BY LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.
THIS IS A PROBLEM EVEN IN VAST COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITEL STATES, WHERE POPULAR RECREATIONAL AREAS ARE IN DANGER OF SERIOUS EROSION, QUITE SIMPLY FROM THE NUMBER OF FEET WHICH USE THE PATHS AND TRACKS AND OPEN COUNTRYSIDE.
+ IN HONG KONG, WHERE THE AREA IS SO MUCH SMALLER AND THE POPULATION DENSITY SO MUCH HIGHER, THE DANGER IS PROPORTIONATELY VERY MUCH GREATER.+
MR. CHAMBERS SAID THE NEED TO PRESERVE SUCH AREAS WAS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE RECENTLY-ENACTED COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES HAS BEEN. EMPOWERED TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS.
WITHIN THE COUNTRY PARKS, DEVELOPMENT WHICH WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THEIR USE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES WOULD NOT BE PERVITTED AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES SUCH A LITTER COLLECTION AND FIRE FIGHTING WOULD BE PROVIDED, HE SAID.