XN000022-1986-07-31 — Page 11

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1936

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ISLAND COUNTRY PARKS PERMANENTLY DESIGNATED

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THE LIFTING OF THE SEVEN-YEAR LIMITATION OF THE DESIGNATION OF THE POK FU LAM, SHEK O AND QUARRY BAY EXTENSION OF TAI TAM COUNTRY PARKS, THREE OF THE FIVE COUNTRY PARKS ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

THE DECISION WAS TAKEN BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS WEEK FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE THREE COUNTRY PARKS.

AMONG THE LAST PARKS PUT FORWARD FOR DESIGNATION UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS PROGRAMME, THE THREE WERE FIRST DESIGNATED IN SEPTEMBER 1979 FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT WHEN THE IR DESIGNATION WAS CONSIDERED IN 1979, PREPARATION OF A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE TERRITORY WAS STILL AT AN EARLY STAGE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT ON HONG KONG ISLAND HAD NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED IN DETAIL.

+THE REASONS FOR THE SEVEN-YEAR DESIGNATION WERE BECAUSE THERE WAS CONCERN THAT THESE PARKS, BEING NEAR TO BUILT-UP AREAS, WOULD UNDULY CONSTRAIN RESIDENTIAL, HIGHWAY AND OTHER URBAN RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SINCE THEIR DESIGNATION IN 1979, THE THREE COUNTRY PARKS HAVE BEEN WELL UTILISED BY THE PUBLIC AND DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES HAS GONE AHEAD, PARTICULARLY IN THE QUARRY BAY EXTENSION OF THE TAI TAM COUNTRY PARK, WHERE THE PARK IS CLOSE TO SUBSTANTIAL EXISTING AND FUTURE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE POK FU LAM COUNTRY PARK HAD BEEN AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER LEVEL IN VIEW OF ITS JOINT STATUS AS COUNTRY PARK AND SPECIAL NATURE CONSERVATION AREA.

THE SHEK O COUNTRY PARK IS THE LEAST DEVELOPED OF THE THREE IN RECREATIONAL TERM AND REMAINS AN UNSPOILT SCENIC AREA OF NATURE CONSERVATION INTEREST.

*WITH THE GROWTH IN POPULATION IN THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE ISLAND, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE SHEK O COUNTRY PARK WILL ALSO COME IN FOR HEAVIER RECREATIONAL USE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN REVIEWING THE DESIGNATION OF THE THREE COUNTRY PARKS ALL INTERESTED DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONSULTED HAVE ADVISED THAT THE TIME LIMITATION SHOULD BE LIFTED AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY DESIGNATED AS COUNTRY PARKS, HE ADDED.

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