XN000022-1976-12-05 — Page 3

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1976

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LION ROCK COUNTRY PARK

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LION ROCK, WHOSE RUGGED TERRAIN AND TREACHEROUS CLIFFS ARE POPULAR WITH HIKERS AND ROCK CLIMBING ENTHUSIASTS, ALSO ATTRACTS MANY PEOPLE WHO GO THERE FOR LESS ARDUOUS OTUDOOR ACTIVITIES.

FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE EARLY THIS YEAR, SCENIC LANDSCAPES AROUND THE ROCK HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR DESIGNATION AS THE PROPOSED COUNTRY PARK.

IT WILL COVER ABOUT 557 HECTARES (1,376 ACRES) AND STRETCH FROM TAI PO ROAD RUNNING EAST, INCLUDING THE WHOLE OF THE RIDGE, TO SHATIN PASS ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE ROCK.

CURRENTLY, THE LOWLAND AREA OF HUNG MUI KUK AND SEVERAL PLACES NEAR THE ADJOINING AMAH ROCK ARE MAINLY FREQUENTED BY FAMILIES AND STUDENTS FOR PICNICS AND BARBECUES. ALTOGETHER THERE ARE AT PRESENT FOUR PICNIC AND FOUR +APPROVED BARBECUE SITES.+

FACILITIES INCLUDE THE USUAL TABLES AND BENCHES, PLAY AREAS, BARBECUE PITS AND LITTER BINS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID:+FIRES, PARTICULARLY IN THE DRY SEASON, ARE A CONSTANT THREAT TO ALL THE COUNTRY PARKS. THE LIGHTING OF FIRES THROUGHOUT COUNTRY PARKS IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT IN +APPROVED BARBECUE SITES+ BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF FIRE AND SERIOUS DAMAGE.+

THE TWO LOCALITIES WERE VISITED BY OVER 20,000 PEOPLE IN 1975 - AN INCREASE OF SOME 150 PER CENT OVER THE 1974 FIGURE.

ANOTHER ATTRACTION OF THE LION ROCK COUNTRY PARK IS THAT IT HAS A LONG STRETCH OF ROAD, LINKING WANG TAU HOM AREA TO SHATIN, WHICH IS USED BY MORNING WALKERS WHO ARE MOSTLY MIDDLE- AGED RÉSIDENTS OF THE NEARBY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

BETWEEN 600 AND 800 PERSONS WALK ALONG THE STEEP ROAD EVERY MORNING AND 50 PER CENT OF THEM SPEND UP TO TWO HOURS IN THIS ACTIVITY.

TOWARDS THE NORTHERN END OF THE SHATIN PASS, IT IS PLANNED TO PROVIDE SIMILAR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE USE OF PEOPLE FROM THE SHATIN NEW TOWN AREA.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE AT PRESENT NO PICNIC OR BARBECUE SITES IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY PARK,

+WE ARE INVOLVED IN A JOINT SCHEME WITH SHA TIN NEW TOWN TO REHABILITATE A LEVELLED AREA (BORROW LAND) WHICH WILL BE TURFED AND PROVIDED WITH FACILITIES UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE, + HE SAID.

+WORK ON THIS HAS NOT YET BEGUN, BUT WILL START AS SOON AS IT IS FEASIBLE. THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO BECOME POPULAR BECAUSE VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A PANORAMIC VIEW OF BOTH KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES,+ HE ADDED.

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