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MEONE DAY, APRIL 24, 1985
LONG-DISTANCE TRAIL FOR HIKERS OPENS
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THE HONG KONG TRAIL - A 50-KILOMETRE HIKING TRAIL DESIGNED FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD WAS JOINTLY OPENED THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON BY PROFESSOR L.B. THROWER OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD AND DR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES,
THIS IS THE THIRD LONG-DISTANCE HIKING TRAIL DEVELOPED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF COUNTRY PARK USERS. THE TWO OTHERS ARE THE LANTAU TRAIL AND THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL.
AT THE CEREMONY, PROFESSOR THROWER SAID THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG TRAIL WAS FURTHER PUBLIC EVIDENCE THAT THE COUNTRY PARKS WERE BEING CONSTANTLY REVIEWED AND DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE INFORMAL OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR THE PEOPLE.
PROFESSOR THROWER, A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD, SAID HE AND OTHERS WHO WERE CONCERNED WITH CONSERVATION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE HAD LONG FELT THAT CONSERVATION AND RECREATION MUST PROCEED HAND-IN-HAND.
+THE TRAIL ITSELF IS A LINEAR RECREATIONAL FACILITY WHICH PASSES THROUGH THE FINEST COUNTRYSIDE ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
+HOWEVER, MUCH OF THE VEGETATION ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TRAIL IS LARGELY UNTOUCHED AND BENEFITS FROM PROTECTIVE SERVICES SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE HABITATS FOR THE WILD-LIFE WHICH IS, IN TURN, PART OF THE RECREATIONAL RESOURCES, HE SAID.
PROFESSOR THROWER SAID THE TRAIL WOULD BE A SOURCE OF IMMENSE PLEASURE AND RELAXATION TO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
+ONE THINKS FIRST OF THE TEEN-AGED AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER PEOPLE WILL USE IT TOO AT A MORE LEISURELY PACE,+ HE SAID.
HONG KONG TRAIL, STARTING FROM THE PEAK AND ENDING AT TAI LONG WAN IN A WEST TO EAST DIRECTION, IS DIVIDED INTO EIGHT SECTIONS OF VARYING LENGTHS. ALL SECTIONS ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
THE SHORTEST SECTION TAKES AN AVERAGE HIKER 1-1/2 HOURS TO WALK THROUGH AND THE LONGEST ABOUT THREE HOURS.
IT TRAVERSES ALL FIVE COUNTRY PARKS, AND PASSES BY THE FIVE RESERVOIRS ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
/A CC.CURFUL