ENG-1999 — Page 481

THE ENVIRONMENT

deployed to enhance fisheries resources and the biodiversity of the marine environment. The Marine Parks Programme continues to serve as an important tool to protect and conserve sites of special ecological and conservation values.

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, as well as for the 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 taken in Hong Kong. It also restricts unauthorised entry to three important wildlife habitats: the Mai Po Marshes, the Yim Tso Ha Egretry and the sea turtle nesting beach in Sham Wan.

The Country Parks Ordinance provides for the designation, control and management of the countryside as country parks and special areas, and enables them to be developed for outdoor recreational, educational and nature conservation purposes.

The Marine Parks Ordinance provides for the designation, protection and management of ecologically important marine environments as marine parks and marine reserves.

Besides general conservation of the countryside, Hong Kong has been identifying and conserving sites of special scientific interest, such as those which are natural habitats of rare vegetation or insect species. In all, some 60 sites have been listed.

The Fisheries Protection Ordinance provides for the conservation of fish and other aquatic life within the waters of Hong Kong. It also provides for the regulation of fishing practices and the prevention of destructive fishing activities such as using explosive or toxic substances for the purpose of fishing. The Fisheries Protection Ordinance has been amended to increase substantially the maximum fine for destructive fishing practices from $10,000 to $200,000 and to provide for the prohibition or restriction of the use of any kind of apparatus for fishing which is detrimental to fisheries and the marine ecosystem.

Protected Areas

There are 23 country parks and 15 special areas (four of which are located outside country parks). Covering a total area of 41 582 hectares, they comprise scenic hills, woodlands, reservoirs, islands, indented coastlines, marshes and uplands. They are carefully protected for the purposes of nature conservation, outdoor recreation, countryside education, tourism and scientific studies. Country parks and special areas are managed on a multi-use basis, involving protection of woodland and vegetation against fire, control of development, litter collection, tree planting, provision of

*

The post has been retitled Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation with effect from January 1, 2000.

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