FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1985
THE DISPLAY MOUNTED AT THE CENTRE PROVIDES VISITORS WITH INFORMATION ON THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE SAI KUNG PENINSULA, LOCAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS, HIGH ISLAND WATER SCHEME AND OTHER COUNTRYSIDE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.
IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, DR RIDDELL-SWAN, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, SAID THE OPENING OF THE VISITOR CENTRE MARKED AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMME, WHICH AIMED TO PROVIDE FACILITIES THROUGH WHICH THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER ACTIVE MEMBERS, COULD ENJOY THE IR COUNTRYSIDE.
+THIS ENJOYMENT CAN BE CONSIDERABLY ENHANCED BY A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND OF ITS PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE,
+THIS INCREASED UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS AS WELL AS MAKING VISITS MUCH MORE INTERESTING ALSO LEADS TO A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND ITS INHABITANTS AGAINST DESPOLIATION, ESPECIALLY FIRE, AND FOR GREATER EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE PROBLEM OF LITTER, HE SAID.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THE MAIN FUNCTION OF A VISITOR CENTRE WAS TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO THIS END, INCLUDING DETAILS OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF WALKS, LOCATION OF POINTS OF INTEREST, LOCAL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES AND BASIC DESCRIPTIONS OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS TO BE SEEN.
+1 AM SURE THAT MANY VISITORS WILL MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY AND THAT IT WILL CONTRIBUTE CONSIDERABLY TO THEIR ENJOYMENT, WELL BEING AND INDEED SAFETY, HE SAID.
SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK IS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR OF THE 21 COUNTRY PARKS DEVELOPED AND MANAGED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE MORE THAN TWO MILLION VISITORS LAST YEAR.
THE LATEST ADDITION WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COUNTRY PARK VISITOR CENTRES TO THREE. THE OTHER TWO IN ABERDEEN AND TAI MEI TUK ARE SMALL AND WERE CONVERTED FROM OLD OFFICE BUILDINGS.
AFTER UNVEILING THE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE, LADY YOUDE, ACCOMPANIED BY DR RIDDELL-SWAN, TOURED THE CENTRE.
PRIOR TO HER DEPARTURE. LADY YOUDE AND DR RIDDELL-SWAN EACH PLANTED A CEREMONIAL TREE AT THE GARDEN OF THE CENTRE.
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