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"Information about location, length, level of difficulty and special features of each of these trails is included with the aim of making hill walking in the countryside safer and more interesting," said Dr Yeung.
"By studying the information provided in the guidebook, visitors can have better planning before starting off their trips."
Dr Yeung said that the 12 country trails were footpaths originally maintained by AFD, but now named with more maps and signs being set up.
These country trails are situated in a number of country parks in the territory. They are: South Lantau Country Trail, Wong Lung Hang Country Trail, Hok Tau Country Trail, Lau Shui Heung Country Trail, Tung Ping Chau Country Trail, High Junk Peak Country Trail, Lung Ha Wan Country Trail, Ma On Shan Country Trail, Tai Tam Country Trail, Pak Tam Country Trail, Cheung Sheung Country Trail and Luk Wu Country Trail.
"We hope that visitors can have safe and enjoyable walks in countryside by following the trails introduced in the guidebook."
Dr Yeung also advised that the guidebook should be used together with the hiking safety booklet and the itinerary planner published by AFD earlier this year.
Other trails in country parks, namely tree walks, family walks, jogging trails, fitness trails, nature trails and long-distance hiking trails are also listed in the guidebook for easy reference.
Copies of the "Enjoy Countryside Walks" booklet will be distributed to participants of a seminar on hiking safety to be held at the Hong Kong Scout Association's (HKSA) Oi Kwan Road Office at 2.30 pm tomorrow (Saturday).
These booklet will be obtainable from AFD-managed country parks visitor centres from Monday (December 23) onwards. These visitor centres are at country parks in Aberdeen, Plover Cove, Tai Mo Shan, Clear Water Bay and Shing Mun as well as the Lions Nature Education Centre in Sai Kung.
They may also be available at the HKSA's offices at Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai and Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui next week.
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