XN000022-1976-12-03 — Page 10

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1976

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SHING MUN COUNTRY PARK

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THE PROPOSED SHING MUN COUNTRY PARK, SITUATED ON THE SOUTHERN SLOPES OF TAI MO SHAN, ENCOMPASSES A TOTAL OF 1,400 HECTARES (3,460 ACRES) OF TERRAIN MOST OF WHICH ARE FOREST PLANTATIONS. THIS COUNTRY PARK STRETCHES FROM NEEDLE HILL IN THE EAST TO THE SLOPES ABOVE TING KAU IN THE WEST.

BEFORE AFFORESTATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RESERVOIR IN 1933, THE AREA WAS MOSTLY COVERED WITH GRASS AND FARMLANDS INHABITATED BY SEVERAL HUNDRED FARMERS IN EIGHT VILLAGES.

DENSE GROWTH OF INDIGENOUS SHRUBS CAN BE FOUND ALONG THE STREAM COURSES OF THE CATCHMENT AREA AND THERE ARE PATCHES OF NATURAL WOODLAND (FUNG SHUI LAM) BEHIND THE ABANDONED VILLAGE SITES.

THESE WOODLANDS WERE PRESERVED BY THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS AND ARE INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE GREAT VARIETY OF BROAD-LEAVED TREES AMONG THEM.

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING PLANTATIONS HERE WAS TO STOP SOIL EROSION AND TO PROTECT THE WATER CATCHMENT AREA OF THE RESERVOIR, ALTHOUGH THE RESERVOIR WAS COMPLETED IN 1937, LARGE SCALE AFFORESTATION WAS DELAYED UNTIL 1946 BECAUSE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

NOW MOST OF THE LANDSCAPE IN THE AREA IS DENSELY COVERED WITH SLASH PINE, BRISBANE BOX AND ACACIA TREES.

THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY OF SEVERE HILL FIRES IN THE AREA, AND SO PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DESTRUCTION DURING THE DRY WINTER MONTHS HAVE BECOME A TOP MANAGEMENT PRIORITY. THREE FOREST PROTECTION POSTS AND ONE FIRE LOOKOUT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN STRATEGIC PLACES AND THEY ARE MANNED 24 HOURS A DAY THROUGHOUT THE DRY SEASON.

THE RESERVOIR AREA HAS LONG BEEN A VERY POPULAR RECREATIONAL RESORT. A RECORD KEPT OF THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE AREA OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS SHOWS A SHARP INCREASE FROM 60,000 IN THE 1964-65 FINANCIAL YEAR TO 440,000 IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.

IN 1971, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT INTRODUCED A PILOT SCHEME TO FIND OUT THE EXTENT OF THE POPULARITY OF THE SHING MUN AREA AS A PLACE FOR PICNIC AND BARBECUE OUTINGS.

USING FUNDS FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION, A TRIAL NUMBER OF BENCHES, TABLES AND BARBECUE PITS OF A VARIETY OF DESIGNS FOR TESTING UNDER LOCAL CONDITIONS WERE CONSTRUCTED AND PLACED IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE AREA.

/THE FACILITIES

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