XN000022-1975-06-05 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1975

MAI PO MARSHES BECOME RESTRICTED AREA

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THE MAI PO MARSHES IN YUEN LONG WILL BECOME A RESTRICTED AREA AS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THIS FOLLOWS A RECOMMENDATION FROM A COMMITTEE OF ECOLOGICAL EXPERTS THAT THE MARSHES SHOULD DE TURNED INTO A NATURE RESERVE AND WILD FOUL PARK.

THE RECOMMENDATION CAME FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATURE CONSERVATION WHICH APPROVED A REPORT ON THE MARSHES BY ITS NATURE CONSERVATION SUB-COMMITTEE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE COST OF ESTABLISHING THE NATURE RESERVE AND WILD FOWL PARK PROPOSED BY THE COMMITTEE WOULD DE SUBSTANTIAL,

+THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET TAKEN A POSITION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, HE SAID. ◆HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT FULLY APPRECIATES THE VALUE OF THE MARSHES AS A HADITAT FOR WILD FOWL AND IS ANXIOUS TO PROTECT THE AREA AS FAR AS RESOURCES WILL ALLOW.+

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT HUNTING IN THE MARSHES WAS ALREADY PROHIBITED UNDER THE FOURTII SCHEDULE TO THE WILD BIRDS AND WILD MAMMALS ORDINANCE.

→THE MAI PO MARSHES SHOULD BE GIVEN FURTHER PROTECTION BY THE INCLUSION OF THE AREA IN THE SEVENTH SCHEDULE TO THE WILD BIRDS AND WILD MAMMALS ORDINANCE,+ HE SAID.

AN ORDER DECLARING THE MARSHES A RESTRICTED AREA WILL BE PUBLISHED IN TOMORROW'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND. WILL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. UNDER THE ORDER ALL PERSONS NOT RESIDENT IN THE AFFECTED AREA WILL NOW REQUIRE A PERMIT TO ENTER.

+SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR THE ISSUE OF PERMITS TO PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE PRESCRIBED AREA, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

→DUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ENTER WILL DE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT FROM THE LICENCING AUTHORITY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES GIVING FULL DETAILS OF THEIR REASONS FOR ENTRY.*

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