ENG-2008 — Page 478

402 Recreation, Sport and the Arts

The training activities have been carefully designed to cope with different weather conditions and the special requirements of young people of different aptitudes and backgrounds. Once on board, participants are regarded as members of the ship's crew and they have to take part in the onboard activities. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, they are trained to face new challenges and participate in programmes that build self-confidence and team spirit.

Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association

The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association (HKYHA) is a non-profit-making organisation providing quality and economical hostel accommodation in Hong Kong and overseas. Its primary aim is to encourage healthy outdoor activities for young people and to promote travel, cultural and international youth exchange programmes. Hong Kong's Chief Executive is the association's patron. Established in 1973, the HKYHA has rich experience in running, planning and marketing hostels. The association is affiliated with the International Youth Hostel Federation which has over four million members around the world.

The HKYHA is currently operating seven youth hostels in Hong Kong, and has over 30 000 life members and 25 000 individual and corporate members. In January, the Association organised the Ngong Ping Charity Walk at the scenic North Lantau Island Country Park. It attracted over 1 200 participants and raised much needed funds for hostel improvement, environmental protection and conservation projects.

Country and Marine Parks

Some 40 per cent of Hong Kong's total land area has been designated as country parks and special areas for nature conservation, outdoor recreation and nature education. With the opening of the Lantau North (Extension) Country Park in 2008, Hong Kong now has 24 country parks and 17 special areas, providing extensive hiking trails, barbecue, picnic and camp sites and visitors centres which attracted over 12.5 million visitors in 2008.

There are four marine parks and one marine reserve for the conservation of marine life. In these marine parks, visitors may enjoy and learn about the beauty and diversity of marine life in Hong Kong. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department manages the country parks, special areas, marine parks and marine

reserve.

Hong Kong Wetland Park

The 61-hectare Hong Kong Wetland Park is a special area designated under the Country Parks Ordinance. Located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai and the southern tip of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, it is a project for promoting wetland conservation, education and tourism in Hong Kong.

The park, opened to the public in May 2006, gives visitors the opportunity to appreciate the wetlands of Hong Kong in an open and natural setting. In 2008, the park attracted over 430 000 visitors. The park also provided conservation education programmes to over 200 000 students and visitors in 2008.