XN000022-1980-07-01 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1980

MORE CAMPSITES FOR NATURE LOVERS

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THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS OPENING UP MORE CAMPSITES FOR NATURE LOVERS.

IT COMPLETED 19 SITES IN 1979, AND HOPES TO ESTABLISH MORE THIS YEAR. PREPARATION OF FIVE IN SAI KUNG AND LANTAU IS UNDERWAY AND ANOTHER FOUR ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGE.

ALL THE SITES HAVE LATRINES, WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES, WATER SUPPLY AND BARBECUE PITS.

ACCORDING TO COUNTRY PARKS PLANNING OFFICER, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, 11 OF THE ESTABLISHED CAMPSITES ARE LOCATED ALONG THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL WHICH WAS OPENED LAST YEAR BY THE GOVERNOR.

+THESE ARE SMALLER SITES, WITH SPACE FOR 10 TENTS EACH, SPECIALLY FOR HIKERS WHO NEED OVERNIGHT STOPS ON THE TRAIL, HE SAID.

+THERE ARE ALSO HIKER'S CAMPS ON LANTAU ISLAND INCLUDING ONE AT NAM SHAN TWO KILOMETRES FROM MUI WO PIER, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SITE BUILT SO FAR WITH A CAPACITY FOR 20 TO 30 TENTS.+

TWO OTHER SITES ARE IN THE PAT SIN RANGE NEAR HOK TAU AND AT PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG.

MR HEYWOOD POINTED OUT THAT FROM A MODEST BEGINNING 18 MONTHS AGO WITH ONE EXPERIMENTAL SITE AT PUI 0, LANTAU, THE SCHEME TO ENCOURAGE THIS POPULAR OUTDOOR RECREATION WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE AT LEAST 30 CAMPSITES BY THE SUMMER OF 1981.

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THE AUTHORITY IS ALSO INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBILITY ENCOURAGING FAMILY OUTINGS BY ESTABLISHING SITES BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE FAMILY SIZE TENTS.

+HOWEVER,+ HE SAID, BEFORE GOING AHEAD WITH ANY PLAN, A SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OF THE PRESENT CAMPSITES.+

MR HEYWOOD ADVISED HIKERS TO CAMP ONLY AT DESIGNATED SITES IDENTIFIED BY SIGNS, AND NOT IN WATER CATCHMENTS OR NEAR STREAMS OR RIVERS, TO AVOID POLLUTING THESE AREAS. CAMPERS SHOULD ALSO TAKE GREAT CARE NOT TO CAUSE FIRES THAT CAN SPOIL LARGE AREAS OF COUNTRYSIDE, HE ADDED.

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