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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1986
+ THE UNIT WOULD VISIT SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG, DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT WILDLIFE, NATURE CONSERVATION AND THE WORK OF THE FUND, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, ISLAND HOUSE WOULD PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE MAI PO WETLANDS PRESERVATION PROJECT AND SERVE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BASE FOR THE ORGANISATION, WHICH HAS PLANS TO EXTEND ITS OPERATIONS TO OTHER AREAS OF WILDLIFE INTEREST.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THESE USES WERE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PROTECTED STATUS OF ISLAND HOUSE WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED AN HISTORIC BUILDING UNDER THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS ORDINANCE.
THE BUILDING WOULD THUS BE PRESERVED AND MAINTAINTED WHILE SERVING A PUBLICLY USEFUL, PURPOSE, HE SAID.
+THE HOUSE IS ALSO WELL SITUATED FOR USE BY FIELD STUDY GROUPS BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE AND OTHER COUNTRY PARKS.
+STUDENTS AND OTHER VISITORS TO ISLAND HOUSE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THE FORESHORE AND GARDENS WHICH, AS A RESULT OF SELECTIVE PLANTING OVER THE YEARS, CONTAIN A LARGE AND VARIED COLLECTION OF TREES AND SHRUBS. THE GROUNDS ALSO PROVIDE A HAVEN FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRDS,+ HE SAID.
THE DECISION TO LET THE PROPERTY TO WWF AT A NOMINAL RENT WAS TAKEN IN VIEW OF THE ORGANISATION'S NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS AND THE VALUE OF THE CONSERVATION AND EDUCATIONAL WORK WHICH IT IS PERFORMING.
+WWF WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE GROUNDS AND FOR PAYMENT OF RATES, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, ADDING THAT SINCE ISLAND HOUSE IS AN HISTORIC BUILDING, WWF WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES FOR ITS FITTING-OUT PROPOSALS AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY TO AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD.
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