ENG-1996 — Page 492

THE ENVIRONMENT

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River, the largest river in southern China, causing brackish waters to extend to areas which for most of the year experience clear oceanic waters. Many marine fish breed in Hong Kong waters. Typical of eastern waters is the red pargo, one of several sea bream whose fry are abundant along the shores of Mirs Bay and are captured in the early spring months to provide a mainstay for mariculture.

The natural history of many common shore animals, particularly the more sedentary molluscs and crustacea of rocky shores and mangroves has been studied, but broad gaps remain in the knowledge of local marine fauna. An expansion of marine recreation, including boating, sport fishing and scuba diving, coupled with an increased concern for the visible effects of pollution and dredging and dumping in local waters has focused attention on marine wildlife in recent years. The less- common commercial fish and many corals that reach the northernmost extent of their range in Hong Kong remain poorly documented, not to mention the myriad less- familiar worms, urchins, starfish, sea pens and the more microscopic plankton forms. The habitats of Hong Kong's coastal areas have experienced dramatic changes in the last decade, paralleling the highly visible developments above high water. Inevitably, detrimental changes in the fauna have occurred, but those which have been identified are being countered with steps towards the protection of sensitive aquatic communities through the extension of the country park system to the marine environment.

Shark sightings have been recorded in local waters and shark attacks near Clear Water Bay have caused several deaths since 1991. To protect swimmers, 21 shark exclusion nets have been erected at popular bathing beaches. These are deployed in such a way as to minimise any possibility of marine life being trapped and serve only to keep bathers and sharks apart.

Four species of whales and 11 species of dolphins have been recorded in Hong Kong waters. The Finless Porpoise and the Indo-Pacific Hump-backed dolphin (commonly known as the Chinese White Dolphin) are the most common in terms of observation. A three-year research study was started in December 1993 to gather baseline information about the Indo-Pacific Hump-backed dolphins. To better understand the species, a further in-depth and systematic two-year study on the dolphins was commissioned in April 1996 to help develop an effective, long-term conservation strategy for the species.

Legislation and Nature Conservation

The Director of Agriculture and Fisheries is the Country and Marine Parks Authority responsible for the conservation of the terrestrial and marine ecological resources. He is also responsible for enforcement of legislation on conservation issues.

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 from Hong Kong. It also restricts unauthorised entry 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