FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1986
10
COUNTRY PARK VISITORS SET RECORD IN 1985-86
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HONG KONG'S COUNTRY PARKS HAVE PROVED SO POPULAR THAT THEY ATTRACTED MORE THAN 68 MILLION VISITORS IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, WITH THE HIGHEST ANNUAL FIGURE OF 9.45 MILLION VISITORS BEING RECORDED IN 1985-86.
THE NEW RECORD, EQUIVALENT TO AN AVERAGE OF TWO VISITS PER HONG KONG CITIZEN, REPRESENTS A FOURFOLD INCREASE OVER THE ANNUAL TOLL OF 2.36 MILLION VISITORS IN 1976-77 WHEN THE FIRST COUNTRY PARKS WERE DESIGNATED.
THE ACTING SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (COUNTRYSIDE) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR WONG FOOK-YEE, SAID THIS TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN OUTLINING THE FINDINGS OF A MAJOR COUNTRY PARKS VISITOR SURVEY TO A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH.
THE SURVEY, THE SECOND SINCE 1983, WAS CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER LAST YEAR AMONG 5 530 VISITORS SELECTED AT RANDOM TO FIND OUT THE USAGE PATTERN OF PARK VISITORS AND TO IDENTIFY THEIR NEED FOR PARK FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
MR WONG SAID: THE COUNTRY PARK IS A PUBLIC ASSET, DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN A NATURAL SETTING FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF EVERYONE IN HONG KONG IRRESPECTIVE OF SEX, AGE, EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND OCCUPATION.
+ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN THE
SURVEY.+
THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK WAS THE MOST POPULAR OF THE 21 COUNTRY PARKS, FOLLOWED BY SHING MUN, KAM SHAN, PLOVER COVE AND ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARKS, HE SAID.
IT ALSO INDICATED THAT BARBECUING WAS THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITY INSIDE COUNTRY PARKS. OTHERS INCLUDED LEISURE WALKING, PICNICKING, HIKING, CYCLING, FITNESS EXERCISE AND CAMPING.
MR WONG SAID THAT OF PARK VISITORS INTERVIEWED IN THE SURVEY IT WAS FOUND THE MOST ACTIVE GROUP WAS BETWEEN 15 AND 39 YEARS OF AGE.
THE AGE GROUP DISTRIBUTION WAS QUITE EVEN WITH 26 PER CENT IN THE 20 - 24 AGE GROUP- 21 PER CENT IN THE 25 - 29 AGE GROUP- 21 PER CENT IN THE 30 - 39 AGE GROUP 20 PER CENT IN THE 15 - 19 AGE GROUP- 10 PER CENT IN THE 40 - 59 AGE GROUP AND ABOUT TWO PER CENT AGED 60 OR OVER.
/+HOWEVER, THE