2
-
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 1977
THERE ARE MANY HECTARES OF NATURAL WOODLAND AND FORESTRY PLANTATIONS, BUT GRASSLAND PREDOMINATES AROUND THE CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE RESERVOIR AND THE ADJOINING HILLSLOPES.
THE COUNTRY PARK IS DIVIDED INTO VARIOUS ZONES CAREFULLY PLANNED WITH THE AIM OF ALLOWING FOR CONTROLLED PUBLIC RECREATION AND AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND FUNG SHUI OF THE COUNTRY.
+WE WANT TO SEE IT KEPT THIS WAY+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD SAID, AND BY TURNING THIS BEAUTIFUL PENINSULA INTO A COUNTRY PARK, WE SHALL SET UP A MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION WHICH WILL DO ITS BEST TO MAKE THIS A REALITY+.
ROAD
+RECREATION ZONES+ ARE CONCENTRATED ALONG THE TAI MONG TSAI
THE SHORES OF THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, AND THE NORTH COAST NEAR HOI HA.
SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR SPOTS ARE AT TAI MONG TSAI, CHEUNG SHEUNG, HAM TIN, SAI WAN, LONG KE AND PAK LAP. THE PICTURESQUE CHEUNG SHEUNG PLATEAU IS OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE TO HIKERS. ON EVERY NEW YEAR DAY, REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS FROM PRACTICALLY ALL LOCAL HIKER CLUBS SCALE THE STEEPY +LADDER TO HEAVEN+ FROM YUNG SHU O AND MEET THERE FOR AN ANNUAL CONGREGATION+. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AT SOME OF THESE AREAS WITH THOSE AT THREE FATHOMS COVE AND HOI HA THE MOST POPULAR. THE WATER IS UNPOLLUTED AND THE SAND SMOOTH AND WHITE.
USUAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS BARBECUE PITS, PICNIC BENCHES AND TABLES, CHILDREN'S ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS AND SHELTERS ARE BEING PROVIDED IN SUITABLE PLACES WHERE FIRE RISK CAN BE CONTAINED, AND MORE WILL BE SET UP.
FOR PURE ENJOYMENT OF THE COUNTRY ATMOSPHERE, THE WILDERNESS ZONE+ - ENCLOSED BY MILES OF HILLY PATHS CRISS-CROSS ING DEEP INTO THE WOODS - PROVIDES PLEASANT WALKS FOR NATURE LOVERS. IT ALSO AFFORDS EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY. THE PADDY FIELDS, CLUSTERED VILLAGES, THE HILLS AND STREAMS BLEND INTO A PERFECT BACKDROP FOR SPLENDID COMPOSITIONS AND, FOR THE PATIENT BIRD WATCHER THERE ARE ADEQUATE REWARDS WITH THE BLUE KINGFISHER TO BE OFTEN SEEN.
BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH PARK DEVELOPMENT TO BE CARRIED OUT SUCH AS NATURE TRAILS AND GUIDED WALKS AND WHERE HILLS HAVE BEEN ERODED, YOUNG TREES, BOTH LOCAL AND INTRODUCED, ARE BEING MIX-PLÁNTED WITH FLOWERING BUSHES.
A PARK SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AT PAK SHA O ALONE, MORE THAN 60,000 YOUNG TREES AND BUSHES HAVE BEEN PLANTED IN 1977 TO STOP THE EROSION OF SOIL, AND MORE WILL FOLLOW.
A PROJECT TO BEAUTIFY THE RESERVOIR AREAS BY LANDSCAPING WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT.
MEANS OF ACCESS TO THE COUNTRY PARK ARE MANY. THE PUBLIC MAY ENTER THE PARK BY ROAD FROM SAI KUNG TOWN OR BY TOLO HARBOUR FERRY FROM TAI PO KAU, OR BY WATER TAXI FROM CENTRAL TO HIGH ISLAND. AT THE MOMENT THE PUBLIC MAY APPROACH THE PARK BY ROAD FROM SAI KUNG TOWN DISMOUNTING AT THE CAR PARK AT TAI MONG TSAI. BEYOND THAT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ROADS WHICH WILL BE USED BY A SPECIAL PARK BUS SERVICE TO ENABLE THE VISITORS TO REACH THE MAIN RECREATION AREAS.