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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1979
THREE MORE COUNTRY PARKS FOR HONG KONG
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THREE MORE COUNTRY PARKS, WITH A TOTAL LAND AREA OF 1 250 HECTARES, HAVE BEEN FORMALLY DESIGNATED ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GAZETTE, THE COUNTRY PARKS DESIGNATED ARE AT SHEK 0 (710 HECTARES), POK FU LAM (270 HECTARES) AND QUARRY BAY (AN EXTENSION OF 270 HECTARES OF THE TAI TAM COUNTRY PARK).
INCLUDING THE TAI TAM EXTENSION, THERE ARE NOW FOUR COUNTRY PARKS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND A TOTAL OF 18 FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG. THE ONLY COUNTRY PARK LEFT FOR FORMAL DESIGNATION IN THE COUNTRY PARKS PACKAGE IS CLEARWATER BAY, WHICH HAS BEEN GAZETTED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
THE TAI TAM EXTENSION ADJOINS THE DENSELY POPULATED QUARRY BAY AND CHAI WAN DISTRICTS. THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN ACCESS IN THE NORTH WILL BE VIA MOUNT PARKER ROAD AND BY FOOTPATHS FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TAI KOO RESERVOIR AREA. IN THE SOUTH, MOUNT PARKER PROVIDES A LINK TO THE EXISTING TAI TAM COUNTRY PARK.
BARBECUE SITES WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN SUITABLE LOCATIONS WHERE FIRE RISK CAN BE CONTAINED. APPROVED BARBECUE PLACES WILL BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED WITH SIGNS. LIGHTING OF FIRES ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY PARK WILL BE PROHIBITED BY REGULATIONS. PICNIC FACILITIES, CHILDREN'S PLAY APPARATUS AND SHELTERS WILL BE PROVIDED WHERE APPROPRIATE AND THE SITES WILL BE DESIGNED FOR BOTH LARGE AND SMALL GROUPS OF VISITORS.
SIMILAR FACILITIES WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED AT SHEK O COUNTRY PARK.
THE SHEK O ROAD GIVES ACCESS TO THE MAIN RECREATION AREAS AND THERE IS PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO THE AREA, THE MAIN PEAKS AND RIDGES ARE ACCESSIBLE BY FOOTPATHS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY SAID TODAY THAT IT WAS PROPOSED TO EVENTUALLY DESIGNATE THE MAJORITY OF THE POK FU LAM COUNTRY PARK AS A SPECIAL AREA IN VIEW OF THE OVERRIDING NEED TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT THE EXISTING EXTENSIVE MATURE WOODLAND AND ITS RELATED WILDLIFE.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT FACILITES FOR INFORMAL RECREATION WILL BE PROVIDED IN CAREFULLY SELECTED LOCATIONS SO AS NOT TO CONFLICT WITH THE CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES OF THE SPECIAL AREA.
THE MAIN ACCESS POINTS FOR PEDESTRIANS ARE AT THE JUNCTION OF PEAK ROAD WITH POK FU LAM RESERVOIR IN THE NORTH AND THE POK FU LAM RESERVOIR ROAD BELOW THE RESERVOIR IN THE SOUTH. SEVERAL OTHER FOOTPATHS ALSO GIVE ACCESS TO THE AREA.
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