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Board re-named to show additional responsibilities
The Country Parks Board has now been re-named the Country and Marine Parks Board (CMPB) to reflect its additional responsibilities following the enactment of the Marine Parks Ordinance earlier this year.
At a CMPB meeting yesterday (Thursday), members endorsed the addition of a new committee and the re-organisation of its two former committees subsequent to the inclusion of marine parks and marine reserves into its responsibility areas. The proposal that a new Marine Parks Committee be established under CMPB was agreed. The committee will deal with matters relating to the planning and management of marine parks and marine reserves.
Members also supported the setting up of the Country Parks Committee to replace the Planning and Management Committee under the former Country Parks Board.
The changes have also brought about the amendments to the terms of reference of the existing Public Relations Committee to include publicity for marine parks and marine reserves.
At yesterday's meeting, members were also briefed on the progress on the study of potential country parks and special areas, which was being carried out in phases.
They noted that in the absence of additional resources, only areas with low or no resources implications were being considered at this stage.
The potential site at Tai Tong has been designated as part of the Tai Lam country park in April this year. With the inclusion of the woodland near Ma On Kong, a net gain of 40 hectares of land to the country park is resulted.
The studies on country park extension at Wan Tsai Peninsula in Sai Kung have been completed and the draft country park map was endorsed by the former Country Parks Board. This country park extension will be gazetted for consultation soon. The study on the country park extension at Lung Fu Shan on Hong Kong Island is at an advanced stage. Subject to the availability of resources, the process to designate it as a country park will begin.