ENG-1994 — Page 496

THE ENVIRONMENT

with steps towards the protection of sensitive aquatic communities through the imminent extension of the country parks system to the marine environment.

Shark sightings have been recorded in local waters; however, most are small to medium in size and pose little danger to humans.

Four species of whales and eight species of dolphins have been recorded in Hong Kong waters and strandings occur quite frequently. The black finless porpoise and the Chinese white dolphin are the most common in terms of observation. In 1994, 10 strandings were reported.

Flora

Situated near the northern limit of the distribution of tropical Asian flora, Hong Kong has an abundant variety of plant life. It is estimated that there are about 2 800 species of vascular plants, both native and introduced.

With the introduction of various conservation measures, hillsides and slopes which were formerly bare have now been planted with trees of both local and exotic species. In addition to greening and beautifying the countryside, woodlands are also important as habitats for wildlife, in the management of water catchments and in providing recreational opportunities for the public.

Remnants of the original forest cover, either scrub forest or well-developed woodlands, are still found in steep ravines. They have survived the destructive influences of man - through their location in precipitous topography and the moist winter micro-climate.

Legislation and Countryside Conservation

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department is the principal government agency responsible for the conservation and management of Hong Kong's countryside.

Various pieces of legislation are in place to protect the countryside.

The Forests and Countryside Ordinance provides for the general protection of vegetation, and gives special protection to certain plants, including native camellias, magnolias, orchids, azaleas and the Chinese new year flower.

The Wild Animals Protection Ordinance prohibits the hunting of wild animals or the possession, sale or export of protected wild animals. It also restricts the entry of unauthorised members of the public to important wildlife habitats, the Mai Po Marshes and the Yim Tso Ha Egretry.

The Country Parks Ordinance provides for the designation, control and management of the most important areas of countryside as country parks and special areas, and enables them to be developed for recreational, conservation and educational purposes. It gives particular protection to vegetation and wildlife. There are now 21 country parks and 14 special areas, covering about 40 per cent of the land area in the territory. There were over 10 million visitors to country parks in 1994.

Overall enforcement of the ordinances is carried out by nature wardens and park wardens. These officers also provide information at seven visitor centres and escort groups on guided visits.

In addition to general conservation of the countryside, Hong Kong has adopted the concept of identifying and conserving sites of special scientific interest, such as a site where a rare species of tree or butterfly can be found. In all, 58 sites have been identified.