XN000022-1976-01-07 — Page 11

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Wednesday, January 7, 1976

NEW LEGISLATION TO PROTECT COUNTRYSIDE

The Country Parks Bill will give comprehensive protection to the

countryside and develop it for open air recreation, the Secretary for the

Environment, the Hon. Janes Robson, said in the Legislative Council today.

In moving the second reading of the bill, he said the legislation

seeks to create a special authority with the powers to control and protect

the countryside and the responsibility to develop for informal recreation

those areas under its control and protection.

Under the bill, the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, who

is already responsible for the development of country parks and recreational

facilities in the countryside, will be the Country Parks authority.

He will be assisted by a Country Parks Board of not fewer than ten

members, of whom at least five will be public officers.

"The Board is intended to be a high powered one so as to give the

Authority the full support of both the community and the Government,"

Mr. Robson said.

The powers given to the Authority were comprehensive, he said,

Once the draft map prepared by the Authority showing proposed country parks

is gazetted, new development within the area without the prior approval of

the Authority would be prohibited.

Objections to the draft map would be heard by the Country Parks

Board and the area shown in the map, amended where necessary, would be

designated as a country park on approval by the Governor in Council.

·

Mr. Robson said that a considerable area would be designated, much

of which would be in the New Territories and much within Waterworks catchment

areas.

"In view of