Feature: HK Geared Up to Boost Ecotourism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 20, 2001

Feature: HK Geared Up to Boost Ecotourism

Hong Kong's pristine outlying island, Tung Ping Chau, has been designated a marine parkby the local government, providing visitors a perfect getaway holiday resort from the city's hustle and bustle.

Hong Kong's pristine outlying island, Tung Ping Chau, has been designated a marine parkby the local government, providing visitors a perfect getaway holiday resort from the city's hustle and bustle.

The island features rarely-seen geos, wave-cut platforms, shalerock formations and marine life rarely found elsewhere in Hong Kong.

Rich and diverse in marine life, Tung Ping Chau is now a protected breeding ground for fish stocks and scientific research field -- the kind of protection which the World Wide Fund for Nature in Hong Kong had been calling for since 1988.

The island is surrounded by extensive coral formations and richin seaweeds. Its coral formation, measuring 1.8 square kilometers,is one of the largest in Hong Kong and supports 124 species of reef fish.

The coastline of Tung Ping Chau is also characterized by sedimentary rock formations and geological features, unheard of inany other parts of Hong Kong and of high scientific and educational value.

Talking of the intriguing land features of the island, Ah Mac, a Hong Kong youngster who loves trekking and camping and is extremely au fait with the geography of Tung Ping Chau, said: " 'Keng Lau Shek' is still an interesting place. The two pieces of shale outcrops are in square shape. You might have thought there might be 2 guards stationing and they had been on duty without a stop if you watch them from a distance."

"The so called 'First Shale' and the 'Second Shale' are the twomost famous shale-cliffs. Under the cliff, there is a large wave-cut platform. The shale boulders that have fallen onto the platform form a marvelous view," he continued.

Ah Mac said a walk along the coast to the main trail leading toWong Ye Wan will be rewarding with plenty of seashells and coral to pick for collectors.

The Hong Kong Ecotourism Association, which offers tours aroundHong Kong's country parks and other unadulterated sight-seeing spots, regularly brings in visitors to the island not only to enjoy the nature there, but to conserve the environment by cleaning up the rubbish left behind by unscrupulous visitors.

Meanwhile, the Country and Marine Parks Authority has installedabout 500 bird-nest boxes in 23 country parks all over Hong Kong, to attract birds using them for nesting and breeding during the breeding season.

A nest box survey conducted last year showed the Great Tit, Magpie Robin and Collared Scoops Owl used the nest boxes as nesting and breeding place.

On the country park front, in order to raise the public awareness in keeping country parks clean, the authority has launched a Clean Country Parks Scheme from September to December 2001 as part of the Clean Country Parks Phase of Clean Hong Kong.

The scheme encourages voluntary litter collection and cleaning in country parks has obtained vast support from various bodies, including members of the Hong Kong Hiking Association, Friends of the Country Parks Hiking Club, Oxfam, Scout Association of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Award for Young People and over 20 local hiking groups.

Alex Yan, acting chairman of the Ecotourism Association, said: "The mission of our association is to instill a sense of awarenessand knowledge on the natural environment through ecotourism. We also call on the government to conserve places and scenarios wherespecial ecology is found in order to make Hong Kong an ultimate ecotourism destination."

"By reviewing and compiling contents in school textbooks, we also hope to increase teachers' understanding on ecotourism and ability to plan trips for their students," Yan said.

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