XN000022-1982-11-02 — Page 5

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1982

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COUNTRY PARKS BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR

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HONG KONG'S COUNTRY PARKS NOW OCCUPY CLOSE TO HALF OF ITS TOTAL LAND AREA, A PROPORTION WHICH RANKS HONG KONG HIGH IN THE WORLD IN COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT.

FROM A MODEST BEGINNING WITH SIMPLE FACILITIES IN A FEW POPULAR PICNIC SPOTS, THE DEVELOPMENT WAS GIVEN IMPETUS BY THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE ENACTED IN 1976. SINCE THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS DESIGNATED 21 COUNTRY PARKS FOR CONSERVATION AND RECREATIONAL USE TAKING UP OVER 41 000 HECTARES, OR 40 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S LAND AREA.

THEY RANGE IN SIZE FROM THE 337-HECTARE PARK IN KAM SHAN TO THE 5 640-HECTARE PARK IN LANTAU SOUTH.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROVIDED IN THE PARKS INCLUDE PICNIC SITES WITH TABLES AND BENCHES, CHILDREN'S GAMES, CAMP SITES AND BARBECUE PITS, ALL OF THEM CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO BLEND WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

FOOTPATHS AND TRAILS PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO SCENIC HILLS AND WOODLANDS.

PARKS.

STATISTICS TESTIFY TO THE GROWING POPULARITY OF THE COUNTRY

THE NUMBER OF VISITS TO THESE PARKS INCREASED FROM 2,36 MILLION IN 1976 TO 8.1 MILLION IN 1981, WITH A NEW MONTHLY RECORD OF 1 047 000 VISITS BEING SET IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, SAID MR K.C. IU, SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

THE PARKS ARE IDEAL FOR PICNICKERS AND HIKERS FOR NATURE LOVERS IN GENERAL.

AS WELL AS

+WITH AN ESTIMATED 2 500 SPECIES OF PLANTS AND SOME 340 SPECIES OF BIRDS, THE PARKS WOULD ALSO SATISFY THE MOST SERIOUS BOTANISTS AND BIRDWATCHERS, MR IU SAID.

SOME OF THE EARLY PICNIC SITES ARE BEING RE-DESIGNED WITH BETTER PAVED PATHS, BETTER FACILITIES AND BETTER PROTECTION MEASURES FOR THE LARGE VARIETY OF PLANTS.

THE PARKS ARE MANAGED BY ABOUT 1 500 STAFF OPERATING FROM 27 MANAGEMENT CENTRES, WITH TWO MORE CENTRES DUE FOR COMPLETION SOON.

THIS MEANS THERE IS ONE STAFF MEMBER FOR EVERY 28 HECTARES OF PARK LAND, OR ONE MAN FOR EVERY 5 400 VISITORS A YEAR.

THE STAFF PERFORM A WIDE RANGE OF DUTIES, INCLUDING PARK PATROL, MANAGING FACILITIES, COLLECTING LITTER, PLANTING TREES AND CONSTRUCTING OR REPAIRING FOOTPATHS.

THERE ARE