XN000022-1977-12-27 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1977

MORE THAN $70M APPROVED FOR COUNTRY PARK DEVELOPMENT

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED NEARLY $71 MILLION IN RECURRENT AND NON-RECURRENT EXPENDITURES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY PARKS IN HONG KONG OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD,

A SUM OF $46.4 MILLION IN NON-RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WILL BE USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF 11 MAJOR MANAGEMENT CENTRES AND SIX SUB-CENTRES WITH ASSOCIATED FACILITIES. THE REMAINDER OF THE SUM WILL BE RECURRENT ON FULL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CENTRES AND COUNTRY PARKS, PUBLICITY, AND THE PROMOTION OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION.

IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT BY APRIL 1981 THERE WILL BE 19 COUNTRY PARKS, PRINCIPALLY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD IN AUGUST 1976, COUNTRY PARKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED IN SHING MUN, LION ROCK, KAM SHAN. ABERDEEN AND TAI TAM AND A SPECIAL AREA WAS DESIGNATED AT TAI PO KAU. TWO COUNTRY PARKS IN SAI KUNG ARE ALSO CURRENTLY GAZETTED.

OTHER AREAS INCLUDED IN THE MASTER PLAN ARE SCHEDULED FOR PLOVER COVE, PAT SIN, LANTAU (NORTH AND SOUTH) TAI LAM/PAT HEUNG, TAI MO SHAN, MA ON SHAN, CAPE D'AGUILAR, CLEAR WATER BAY, SOUTH LAMMA AND NORTH LAM TSUEN.

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. E.H. NICHOLS, WHO IS ALSO THE COUNTRY PARK AUTHORITY, SAID TODAY THAT COUNTRYSIDE RECREATION HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR AND POSITIVE STEPS WERE NECESSARY TO PROTECT HONG KONG'S REMAINING COUNTRYSIDE FROM THE HAZARDS OF FIRE AND DESPOILATION.

THE NUMBER OF VISITOR-DAYS TO THE DEPARTMENT'S MANAGED AREAS ALSO INCREASED FROM ABOUT 500,000 IN 1970/71 TO 1.86 MILLION IN 1975/76 AND 2.5 MILLION IN 1976/77. THE NUMBER OF VISITORS IS ESTIMATED TO RISE BY ABOUT 10 PER CENT ANNUALLY DURING THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THE CAPTIAL EXPENDITURE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE INCLUDES $14.15 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 11 MAMAGEMENT CENTRES- $4.2 MILLION FOR THE SIX SUB-CENTRES- $1.5 MILLION FOR OPEN AIR PARKING AREAS $8.13 MILLION FOR FIRE LOOKOUTS, PAVILIONS, PUBLIC TOILETS, CONCESSIONA IRE KIOSKS, HAWKER STANDS AND PREFABRICATED OFFICES $10.75 MILLION FOR ROADS AND EQUIPMENT- AND $7.62 MILLION FOR MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR BUILDING THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

MR. NICHOLS SAID THAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME IS TO CONSERVE THE COUNTRYSIDE AS A NATIONAL ASSET FOR THE USE OF THE PUBLIC.

THE COUNTRY PARKS