FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1981
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LEGCO MEMBERS VISIT FORESTRY WORK CAMP
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TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON W.C.L. BROWN AND THE HON ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, TODAY (FRIDAY) SAW FOR THEMSELVES PART OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME IN ACTION.
THEY FLEW BY HELICOPTER TO THE SHEK PIK COUNTRY PARK ON LANTAU ISLAND WHERE A SCHOOL FORESTRY WORK CAMP IS BEING RUN FOR 18 SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM THE BUDDHIST TAI KWONG MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE FORESTRY WORK CAMP SCHEME IS A POPULAR AND MEANINGFUL SUMMER ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION EDUCATION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TO OFFER THEM A RECREATIONAL OUTLET WHILE MANAGING THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ACCOMPANYING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS ON THE VISIT WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR YOUTH RECREATION, MR F. DE S. OZORIO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR A.J. REEVE AND INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS (SCIENCE STUDIES) OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR K.K. LAI.
THEY WERE MET ON ARRIVAL AT THE SHEK PIK COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE BY THE SENIOR CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR S.P. LAU, AND THE CONSERVATION OFFICER (EDUCATION), MR M.K. CHEUNG.
THE VISITORS WERE CONDUCTED ON A TOUR OF THE CAMP SITE WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER FACILITIES MADE AVAILABLE BY THE ORGANISERS. THEY STOPPED NOW AND THEN TO TALK TO TEACHER LEADERS AND STUDENT CAMPERS, ABOUT THEIR DUTIES.
MR BROWN AND MR SO THEN PROCEEDED BY CAR TO A WORK SITE IN THE LANTAU COUNTRY PARK WHERE THEY SAW THE STUDENT CAMPERS AT WORK TENDING YOUNG PLANTATION TREES AND CLEARING OVERGROWN FOOTPATHS.
BEFORE WINDING UP THEIR VISIT, THEY EXCHANGED USEFUL IDEAS WITH THE ORGANISERS AND SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES.
THE SHEK PIK CAMP IS ONE OF THE 80 FORESTRY WORK CAMPS IN 15 COUNTRY PARKS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAVE ORGANISED THIS YEAR.
THE SCHEME, FUNDED BY A DONATION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, STARTED 16 YEARS AGO AS A SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITY. HAS BECOME MORE POPULAR IN RECENT YEARS AS MORE COUNTRY PARKS OPENED.
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A TOTAL OF 74 FORESTRY WORK CAMPS WERE RUN LAST YEAR FOR MORE THAN 2 000 SCHOOL CHILDREN.