XN000022-1993-06-05 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1993

MARINE

HONG KONG HAS A SURPRISINGLY RICH AND DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT. MORE THAN 50 SPECIES OF HARD AND SOFT CORALS LIVE IN THE TERRITORY'S WATERS

ACCORDING AS MANY AS IN THE CARIBBEAN, PITTS.

IN

-

TO

MR

BUT OVER-FISHING, POLLUTION AND THE LARGEST RECLAMATION PROJECT SOUTHEAST ASIA, WHICH DUMPS THOUSANDS OF TONS OF HEAVILY POLLUTED SILT INTO THE SEABED, IS SUFFOCATING MANY CORALS.

THIS, IN TURN, IS KILLING OFF THE ASSOCIATED MARINE LIFE FOUND ON THE REEFS.

YET, THE SHELTERED BAY OF HOI HA WAN, LYING TO THE NORTHEAST OF HONG KONG, HAS SO FAR ESCAPED THIS DISTURBANCE.

HOME TO MORE THAN 70 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S CORAL LIFE, THE BAY HAS ALREADY BEEN DESIGNATED A SITE OF SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC INTEREST.

AND NOW THE WORLDWIDE FOUNDATION FOR NATURE IN HONG KONG, CO- PRODUCER OF MR PITTS' FILM, WANTS THE BAY DECLARED A MARINE PARK, HONG KONG'S FIRST, TO GIVE IT THE FULL PROTECTION IT DESERVES.

"PRIMARILY MY AIM WAS TO MAKE AN EDUCATIONAL

SCHOOLS AND RAISE AWARENESS,

**

MR PITTS SAID.

TOOL TO SHOW

" BUT YOU COULDN'T MAKE A MARINE FILM WITHOUT SAYING WHAT'S GOING WRONG SUCH AS POLLUTION AND OVERFISHING, BECAUSE IF NOTHING HAPPENS NOW OUR KIDS WILL INHERIT A STAGNANT POOL.

"

MR PITTS WAS IN NEW ZEALAND AND UNABLE TO RECEIVE HIS AWARD. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER MRS MELINDA PARSONS, ACCEPTED THE AWARD FOR MR PITTS ON HIS BEHALF.

THE FILM WAS CHOSEN FROM AMONG 1,300 ENTRIES FROM 31 COUNTRIES. THE FESTIVAL IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST COMPETITION DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE SELECTION OF OUTSTANDING SPONSORED, BUSINESS, TELEVISION AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIONS.

THIS YEAR'S EVENT FEATURED WINNERS FROM 20 COUNTRIES.

THE FESTIVAL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PATRICIA MEYER, SAID: "THE NON-THEATRICAL FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRY FOR SPONSORED PRODUCTIONS IS CONSIDERABLY LARGER THAN THE HIGH-PROFILE THEATRICAL INDUSTRY."

"WHEN TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS ARE INCLUDED, THE COMPETITION REPRESENTS A VAST PRODUCTION INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE WITH A HUGE TALENT BASE. THIS IS EVIDENT IN BOTH THE DIVERSITY AND QUALITY WINNERS.

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