ENG-1978 — Page 287

212

THE ENVIRONMENT

with rushing streams, and open hillsides. Some 20 freshwater reservoirs of various sizes nestle among the hills, giving additional charm to the scenery.

About three-quarters of Hong Kong's land area is covered with hills and the vegetation on them includes grass, scrub and some 4,050 hectares of woodland much of it the result of afforestation programmes. The woodlands not only beautify the countryside but also are important in the management of water catchments.

The Country Parks Ordinance, which came into effect in early 1976, gave a fresh impetus to a five-year-old programme to develop the recreational potential of the countryside. The legislation provides for the designation, control and management of the most important areas of the countryside as country parks, and it enables them to be developed for recreational and tourism purposes. It also gives particular pro- tection to vegetation and wildlife.

During 1978, great progress was made in the designation of country parks. An additional nine parks, covering a total area of 24,794 hectares, were designated. These are Sai Kung East and West, Plover Cove, Pat Sin Leng, South and North Lantau, Lam Tsuen, Tai Mo Shan and Tai Lam Chung. Survey work for several other parks is in progress. According to plan, more than 70 per cent of the territory's hilly areas will have been designated as country parks or special areas before the end of 1980.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department is responsible for conservation and forestry work and for relatively intensive management of countryside areas. Since 1972, it has been carrying out a programme to improve footpaths and to provide picnic and barbecue places, shelters, information and educational services, and other facilities. Road access to the countryside also is being improved to enable manage- ment services to deal more effectively with fire and litter - the most serious problems created by visitors.

The department also is responsible for fire protection, landscape rehabilitation, and the protection of flora and fauna. The Forests and Countryside Ordinance provides for the general protection and management of the vegetation, and special protection is given to certain plants - including native camellias, magnolias, orchids, azaleas and the Chinese New Year Flower.

The greater part of the countryside is subject to some form of prohibition on bird and wild mammal hunting and carrying firearms. Overall enforcement of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance is carried out by eight full-time game wardens. They are supported by 337 government officials with the powers of game wardens and by 30 honorary game wardens. In addition, Justices of the Peace and police officers have the statutory powers of game wardens.

Aside from general conservation of the countryside, Hong Kong has now adopted the concept of identifying and conserving sites of special interest to ecologists, such as a site where a rare tree or a rare species of butterfly can be found. Up to December 31, 1978, a total of 11 of these sites had been identified for future conservation action.

Topography and Geology

Hong Kong lies on the edge of an eroded mountain chain that extends along the south coast of China and is largely composed of folded and metamorphosed volcanic