For Council Meeting on 5 March 2013 SKDC (M) Paper No. 68/13

Sai Kung District Council Progress Report of the Working Group on Tourism & Economic Development

The first meeting (2013) of the Working Group on Tourism & Economic Development (the Working Group) of the Sai Kung District Council (SKDC) was held on 5 February 2013. The major issues discussed at the meeting were summarized as follows:

Examine the feasibility of using environmentally friendly electric vehicles at East Dam of Reservoir 2. The representatives of CLP Power Limited, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Transport Department (TD) and the Water Supplies Department (WSD) attended the meeting to exchange views with the Working Group regarding the use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles at East Dam of . The representatives of government departments in general, welcomed the suggestion. The Working Group agreed to recommend a few Members to become members of an ad hoc group to further discuss the issue with government departments.

Discussion on the awning design of outside seating accommodation 3. Members discussed the issues related to the awning of outside seating accommodation (OSA) in Sai Kung and considered that the existing outlook of restaurants bear their own characteristics. The Working Group suggested the Sai Kung Food & Beverages Association and the Hong Kong Design Institute to discuss on how to improve the design of the awnings of OSA.

4. The Sai Kung District Office (SKDO) would continue to conduct law enforcement actions against the irregularities found at OSA in a fair manner. The SKDO would also work with the restaurants in Sai Kung to solve the problems.

Discussion on the development of the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China 5. The Working Group suggested enhancing the publicity of the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (the Geopark). Apart from Sai Kung district, the publicity should also cover Tseung Kwan O.

6. The representative of AFCD reported on the development of the Geopark, as well as the proposal to raise the grading of the Geopark. The Working Group suggested the AFCD to promote the concept of Geopark hotel more extensively in the future and could include elements of the Geopark into the golf course and cultural museum of the district.

Volcano Discovery Centre of the Hong Kong Global Geopark proposed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department 7. The representative of AFCD introduced to the Working Group the progress of the Volcano Discovery Centre of the Hong Kong Global Geopark. It was estimated that the project could be completed towards the end of 2013. Members welcomed the proposal of the AFCD and hoped that the Centre could become the gateway to the Geopark. Pending for the completion of the design concept, the AFCD would consult the Working Group in details regarding the internal design of the Centre.

Suggestion to co-publish album with the Tseung Kwan O Photography Association 8. The Working Group agreed to co-publish album with the Tseung Kwan O Photography Association and suggested the Association to provide the Working Group with photographs for selection.

Reconstruction of High Island Pier and Pier 9. The Working Group was concerned that the supporting facilities for the Geopark was inadequate, particularly during holidays when visitor flow to the Geopark was high. There was not enough space for the boats to berth and many visitors could only stay on the boats to appreciate the beauty of the Geopark instead of visiting the place on foot. To facilitate visitors to access the Geopark and to promote local economy in the long run, the Working Group suggested using the funding earmarked for the Signature Project Scheme to reconstruct the High Island Pier and Sharp Island Pier. The Working Group had discussed such suggestions for many times and had reflected its views to the high officials in the Government. The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) was also invited to conduct preliminary work (please refer to Annex for details). The Working Group had also decided to invite all SKDC Members and the media to conduct a site visit to the piers on 1 March 2013 to examine the actual situation.

Working Group on Tourism & Economic Development Sai Kung District Council February 2013

- 2 - Annex Discussion and follow up items of the Sai Kung District Council on enhancing the supporting facilities of tourism and marine traffic

Background Being recognized as the Back Garden of Hong Kong, the problem of inadequacy in the supporting and pier facilities in the district had become more prominent with the increase in visitor flow after a number of scenic spots in Sai Kung were designated as part of the Hong Kong Global Geopark (the Geopark). The Working Group on Tourism & Economic Development (the Working Group) of the Sai Kung District Council (SKDC) had discussed for many times the suggestions on how to enhance the supporting facilities of tourism and marine traffic of Sai Kung and had invited the relevant government departments to discuss on the issue and follow up on the preliminary work so as to respond to the local requests.

Expansion of the berthing area of Centre 2. At its meeting in December 2009, the Working Group discussed on the suggestion to expand the existing berthing area at Sai Kung Town Centre. The Working Group supported the expansion of the berthing area, so as to solve the existing problem of inadequacy in berths off Tui Min Hoi Village as well as to match with the needs of tourism in Sai Kung, in particular the development of the Geopark.

Reconstruction of the High Island Pier 3. The Traffic and Transport Committee of the SKDC endorsed the motion of “Request to reconstruct the pier at High Island, Sai Kung” at its meeting on 24 March 2011. The Sai Kung District Office (SKDO) had discussed with the relevant departments (including the Transport Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), the Marine Department (MD), the Environmental Protection Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department) on the feasibility of improving and expanding the existing piers. A meeting with SKDC, the Sai Kung Rural Committee, the High Island Tin Hau Temple Committee and the relevant village representatives was arranged on 8 September 2011 to learn more about the requests of the locals.

Moving the sea wall outward, improving the Sharp Island Pier, Pier and High Island Pier, as well as constructing pleasure boat berthing and dam at Tso Wo Hang 4. Besides this, Members of the Working Group, as well as the representatives of MD and CEDD had inspected the outlying islands of Sai Kung on 19 March 2012 to examine the supporting facilities, with a view to match with the development of the Geopark. The Working Group came up with the following recommendations after concluding on the past discussions and site inspections: • The number of pleasure junks in Sai Kung continued to increase with the establishment of the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China. The Working Group expressed its concern regarding the safety of marine traffic and development needs in the proximity of the sea wall. Hence, the Working Group suggested moving the sea wall outward to provide more space for the vessels to enter and exit the typhoon shelter and to dock. • The Working Group suggested conducting improvement works at the piers of Sharp Island, High Island and Kau Sai Chau to cater for the increasing number of visitors

- 3 - to the Geopark. • Increase the number of berth and dam at Tso Wo Hang to cater for the demand and development of the local area. The SKDC agreed to raise these recommendations for discussion with the Legislative Council (LegCo).

Meeting between Members of the SKDC and the Legislative Council 5. The Convenor of the Working Group raised out the above recommendations at the meeting between Members of the SKDC and the LegCo on 31 May 2012. The LegCo later on wrote to the Chief Executive asking him to appoint principal officials to coordinate the relevant government departments in following up on the development of supporting facilities for the Geopark.

Acting Chief Executive, Financial Secretary and Secretary for Development visiting Sai Kung 6. Ms. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the former Secretary for Development and Mr. Stephen Lam Sui-lung, the former Acting Chief Executive visited Sai Kung in March and April 2012 respectively to inspect on the various developments of Sai Kung, including the sea wall at Sai Kung, berthing area at Yim Tin Tsai Typhoon Shelter, Sharp Island Pier and High Island Pier. They exchanged views with the locals on the facilities for the enhancement of livelihood and tourism development of Sai Kung. Mr. John Tsang Chun-wah, the Financial Secretary, visited Sai Kung in October 2012 to learn more about the present situation and development potential of Sai Kung and to inspect the outlying islands, the Geopark and the sea wall of Sai Kung.

Writing to the Chief Executive 7. The motion of “Suggest the Government to promote the development of supporting facilities near the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, which includes moving the sea wall off Tui Min Hoi Village of Sai Kung outward, improving the Sharp Island Pier, Kau Sai Chau Pier and High Island Pier, as well as constructing pleasure boat berthing and dam at Tso Wo Hang” was endorsed at the SKDC Meeting on 6 November 2012 and the SKDC had written to the Chief Executive to express the request. Besides this, the Chairman of SKDC wrote to the Chief Executive in the same month to express his opinion on the Policy Address and suggest to improve or expand the supporting facilities of tourism and transport in Sai Kung, as well as to enhance the overall development strategy. The suggestions covered issues being discussed for many times at the SKDC, which included improving the pier facilities of outlying islands in Sai Kung, expanding the berthing area of Sai Kung Town Centre, as well as improving Hiram’s Highway. The Chief Executive replied that these suggestions would be taken into consideration when formulating the 2013 Policy Address and the 2013-14 Budget.

Preliminary work of the Civil Engineering and Development Department 8. In order to have the suggestions of reconstructing the Sharp Island Pier and High Island Pier implemented early, the Working Group had invited the CEDD to devise initial design for the works, to estimate on the time needed to confirm all the details and to assess the project cost. The CEDD had undertaken to implement the projects if funding was approved.

- 4 - Signature Project Scheme 9. The SKDO and the relevant departments attended the meeting of Heung Yee Kuk on 19 June 2012 to look into the feasibility of reconstructing the High Island Pier together with the locals. At the meeting, it was understood that the funding under the rural public works project of the SKDO was not sufficient for reconstructing the pier. In the 2013 Policy Address, it was announced that the Government had earmarked a provision of $10 million for each district to enhance the District Administration Scheme to support District Councils in the implementation of Signature Projects. The Working Group suggested using the funding earmarked for the Signature Project Scheme to reconstruct the High Island Pier and Sharp Island Pier, so as to facilitate visitors to access the Geopark and to promote local economy in the long run.

Working Group on Tourism & Economic Development Sai Kung District Council February 2013

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