XN000022-1979-05-13 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 13, 1979

COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMME AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

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THE LATEST GAZETTING OF THREE MORE COUNTRY PARKS ON HONG KONG ISLAND MEANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S LEGAL DESIGNATION PHASE OF THE COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMME SHOULD BE COMPLETED NEXT AUGUST 20 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS, MR. MARTIN LEWIS.

LISTED IN THE GAZETTE FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION WERE THE POK FU LAM, SHEK O AND QUARRY BAY (TAI TAM EXTENSION) COUNTRY PARKS, WHICH HAVE A TOTAL LAND AREA OF 1,250 HECTARES.

MR. LEWIS SAID FORMAL DESIGNATION OF THESE PARKS IN AUGUST MEANS THAT ABOUT 40 PER CENT (41,780 HECTARES) OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL LAND AREA WILL BE PROTECTED AS COUNTRY PARKS OR NATURE RESERVES.

THE GOVERNMENT'S TARGET DATE FOR COMPLETING THE DESIGNATION PROGRAMME WAS APRIL 1981,

+NOW THAT THE GAZETTING OF COUNTRY PARKS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, WE WILL BE CONCENTRATING OUR EFFORTS EVEN MORE ON PROVIDING THE NECESSARY RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THESE PARKS, MR. LEWIS SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IN THE MEANTIME, THE DEPARTMENT WAS PREPARING TO ADD ANOTHER 19 SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST TO THE PRESENT SCHEDULE OF 21, AND GAZETTE THREE MORE AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY AS SPECIAL AREAS AT KAT O, POK FU LAM AND TUNG LUNG ISLAND.

THE PROPOSED POK FU LAM COUNTRY PARK OF ABOUT 270 HECTARES COVERS THE NORTHERN WOODED SLOPES OF VICTORIA PEAK, BELOW HATTON AND LUGARD ROADS- THE VALLEY WHICH CONTAINS POK FU LAM RESERVOIR, SOUTH OF HARLECH ROAD AND THE MIDDLE SLOPES BENEATH MT, KELLET ROAD, LINKING WITH THE EXISTING ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARK TO THE EAST.

MR. LEWIS SAID THE LANDSCAPE OF THE PROPOSED PARK AREA MAKES AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF HONG KONG ISLAND, PROVIDING A SCENIC BACKDROP TO THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

THE PROPOSED SHEK O COUNTRY PARK (710 HECTARES) CONSISTS PREDOMINANTLY OF GRASSY HILLS AND A SECTION OF ROCKY COASTLINE. IT COVERS THE D'AGUILAR PENINSULA, TO THE EAST OF TAI TAM BAY AND INCLUDES OBELISK HILL- MT. COLLINSON AND POTTINGER PEAK IN THE NORTH- THE DRAGON'S BACK AND SHEK O PEAK AND D'AGUILAR PEAK IN THE SOUTH. BARBECUE FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE RECREATIONAL ZONES ON THE LOWER SLOPES AND SHELTERED AREAS OF THE PARK WHERE THE RISK OF FIRE CAN BE CONTAINED.

PICNIC FACILITIES, CHILDREN'S PLAY APPARATUS AND SHELTERS WILL BE PROVIDED WHERE APPROPRIATE AND THE SITES WILL BE DESIGNED FOR BOTH LARGE AND SMALL GROUPS OF VISITORS.

TER PROPOSED