XN000022-1990-05-05 — Page 7

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SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1990

REMINDER AGAINST ILLEGAL CAMPING IN COUNTRY PARKS

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HOLIDAY-MAKERS WHO WISH TO CAMP IN COUNTRY PARKS THAT THEY CAN DO SO ONLY IN DESIGNATED CAMP SITES WITHIN PARKS AREA.

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REMINDED THE COUNTRY

"ALTOGETHER THERE ARE 37 DESIGNATED CAMP SITES IN HONG KONG'S 21 COUNTRY PARKS AND MOST OF THESE SITES ARE LOCATED NEAR THE POPULAR HIKING ROUTES, THE SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR MARTIN LEUNG, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

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"THEY CAN BE EASILY IDENTIFIED BY COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY.

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SIGNBOARDS PUT UP BY THE

MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE DESIGNATED CAMP SITES WERE PROVIDED WITH BASIC FACILITIES SUCH AS LEVEL GROUND, WOODEN BENCHES, BARBECUE PITS, DRY PIT TOILETS AND LITTER BINS.

"LOCATED OUTSIDE DIRECT WATER CATCHMENT AREAS AND FAR AWAY FROM DENSE WOODS, THESE SITES HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY CHOSEN FOR PLEASANT AND SAFE CAMPING AND TO PREVENT CAMPERS FROM POLLUTING WATER SOURCES OR STARTING A HILLFIRE, MR LEUNG EXPLAINED.

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"APART FROM SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CONSIDERATIONS, THE DESIGNATION OF CAMP SITES IN COUNTRY PARKS WILL MAKE MANAGEMENT EASIER AND ENSURE THAT CAMPERS WILL NOT GET IN THE WAY OF COUNTRY PARK VISITORS ENGAGED IN OTHER FORMS OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, HR CONTINUED.

MR LEUNG STRESSED THAT UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS AND SPECIAL AREA REGULATIONS, CAMPING IN COUNTRY PARKS OTHER THAN IN A DESIGNATED CAMP SITE IS AN OFFENCE WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $2,000 IN FINE AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS.

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IN THE LAST 13 MONTHS, 46 CAMPERS WERE PROSECUTED AND TOTAL OF $12,200 FOR ILLEGAL CAMPING IN COUNTRY PARKS. THE FINES RANGED FROM $50 TO $300.

NOTING THAT COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISY CAMPERS WERE RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT NOW AND THEN, MR LEUNG APPEALED TO CAMPERS TO BE MORE

CONSIDERATE.

"THEY SHOULD KEEP THEIR VOICES DOWN AND TURN DOWN THE VOLUME OF THEIR RADIOS AND CASSETTE RECORDERS, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT SO NOT TO DISTURB THOSE CAMPING NEAR THEM, HE URGED.

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HE REMINDED CAMPERS THAT CAUSING NOISE NUISANCE IN PARKS IS ALSO AN OFFENCE AND OFFENDERS ARE AGAIN LIABLE TO A PENALTY OF $2,000 IN FINE AND JAIL FOR THREE MONTHS.

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COUNTRY

MAXIMUM

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