ENG-1996 — Page 471

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

was completed in August 1996. Meanwhile the orangutan enclosure is under renovation.

Regional Council Parks

The Regional Council manages more than 587 parks and gardens of various sizes, including six major parks. Tuen Mun Park is the largest park in the New Territories, covering 12.5 hectares. It has an ornamental lake for rowing and a 160-metre water cascade, the largest of its kind in Hong Kong.

North District Park covers 9.6 hectares and is provided with a sports hall, amphitheatre, artificial lake and children's playground. The 8.5-hectare Sha Tin Park, with its Chinese garden and adventure playground, is the most popular with New Territories residents.

Special features of the 7.5-hectare Yuen Long Park include a seven-level pagoda with a built-in aviary which houses more than 180 birds of 51 species. The newest park, Tin Shui Wai Park, covers 7.5 hectares and includes an amphitheatre and children's play area.

Country Parks and Marine Parks

Despite Hong Kong's dense urban environment, opportunities for outdoor recreation. are not lacking. There are 22 country parks provided with barbecue sites, picnic sites, camp sites and extensive hiking trails. In 1996, over 10 million visits were made to these parks covering some 40 per cent of the territory's total land area.

The first batch of marine parks, including Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park and Yan Chau Tong Marine Park, was designated in 1996. These marine parks will provide opportunities for nature education and public enjoyment of our marine environment. The Director of Agriculture and Fisheries is the Country and Marine Parks Authority responsible for the provision and management of recreational facilities.

Horticulture and Landscape Services

Urban Council

The Urban Council is committed to improving the urban environment with landscaping and tree preservation. The services include landscape design and planting, plant production, horticultural research, tree maintenance and conservation.

During the year, the council completed 40 landscape projects and planted approximately 38 000 trees and 1 million flowering shrubs. About 90 per cent of these plants were supplied from the council's nurseries, with the balance coming from commercial nurseries.

Regional Council

The Regional Council maintains 697 hectares of greenery in parks, gardens, sports grounds, soccer pitches, games areas and children's playgrounds in the New Territories. It also manages amenity plots and soft landscape along highways and roads. In 1996, more than 472 000 plants were planted in parks, playgrounds and roadside amenities.

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