1
TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE 4 ORGANISERS AND SUPPORTING ORGANISATION 5 CHAPTER ONE 6 1. Introduction of the Game 6 2. Game Arrangement 7 Schedule (subject to on-day arrangement) 8 Registration and Baggage Deposit 8 Game Gear Checklist 8 3. Rules of the Game 9 General rules 9 How to obtain “Green Energy” ? 10 4. Prizes and Souvenirs 11 Winning Prizes 11 Souvenirs 11 5. Precautions 12 Safety Precautions 12 Environmental protection 12 6. Arrangement for bad weather and special conditions 13 7. Emergency contact 13 CHAPTER TWO 14 1. Cultural Features of Central Western District 14 1.1 Historic Buildings 14 1.1.1 Pinewood Battery 14 1.1.2 The University of Hong Kong 15 1.1.3 Lo Pan Temple 15 1.1.4 King’s College 16 1.1.5 Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe) 16 1.1.6 King George V Memorial Park 17 2. Nature Conservation 17 2.1 Stonewall Trees 17 2.2 Lung Fu Shan Country Park 19 3. Global and Local Environmental Problems 20 3.1 Over-consumption of Seafood 20 3.2 Trade of Endangered Species 21 3.2.2 Ivory 22 3.2.3 Leave No Trace 23
2 3.2.4 Climate Change and Vegetarianism 24 3.2.5 Earth Overshoot Day 25 3.2.6 Invasion of Alien Species 26 4. Ecology and Biodiversity 28 4.1 Indian Rubber Bush 28 4.2 Taro and Giant Alocasia 28 4.3 Four Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong 29 4.4 Chinese Fan Palm and Short-nosed Fruit Bat 30 4.5 Wild Boar 31 4.6 Golden Birdwing 31 4.7 Country Parks 32 4.8 Geopark 33 4.9 Site of Special Scientific Interest 34 4.10 Designated Marine Parks and Marine Reserve 34 ANNEX 1 INSURANCE DETAILS 35 ANNEX 2 REFERENCE 36
3
PREFACE
Dear participants,
We would first like to express our greatest gratitude for your support for the BiodiverCity Quest - Greengoer Orienteering Game 2017. As it is our hope to let you learn while having fun with your friends and to arouse your interests in different aspects about our city and our world, we have prepared this booklet to get you ready for the Game. By reading this booklet, you may even notice that some hints have been dropped for you!
Apart from the hints, there are also many other equally important points for you to note, such as the Game rules and the safety precautions. It would be very much appreciated if you could spare some time to read this booklet thoroughly before the Game. In case of discrepancies between the Chinese and English versions, the Chinese version shall prevail. Enjoy the Game, have fun and get the most out of it!
We look forward to seeing you all on 11 March 2017! :)
Greengoers 2016/17
4
ORGANISERS AND SUPPORTING ORGANISATION
About Greengoers - Who are We? We are a group of tertiary students from different institutions participating in the "Greengoer - Student Environmental Protection Leadership Training Scheme 2016/17" (SEPLS). Sponsored and supported by the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), this 10-month environmental leadership training programme is one of the programmes organised by Ecobus, with the aim to foster global citizenship among tertiary students and to train them to be future leaders with visions in environmental conservation and sustainable development. This year, the BiodiverCity Orienteering Game is one of the many social events we would help organise. For more details about the SEPLS or Ecobus, please visit the website: http://ecobus.org.hk/greengoer/.
Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre (LFSEEC) Jointly established by the EPD of the HKSAR Government and the University of Hong Kong in 2008, LFSEEC has been actively involved in promoting environmental education through interactive learning experience around the LFS Country Park and enhancing public awareness towards sustainability issues and low-carbon living. For more information regarding LFSEEC, please visit http://www.sustainability.hku.hk/lfseec/.
We are thankful for LFSEEC’s general assistance throughout the event. Without the generous assistance from them, holding the "BiodiverCity Quest - Greengoer Orienteering Game 2017” would not have been an easy task for us.
5
CHAPTER ONE
1. Introduction of the Game "BiodiverCity Quest - Greengoer Orienteering Game 2017" is a fundraising cum environmental education event in which participants will be able to discover and to appreciate the high biodiversity, cultural and historical values of Hong Kong, through locating the checkpoints on their planned routes and taking on different specially designed tasks in the western part of our city.
In addition to the basic enrolment donation made by the participants, Ecobus will also donate $50 for each participant. As one of the aims of BiodiverCity is to raise funds for the promotion of biodiversity as well as conservation of ecological and cultural assets in Hong Kong, all the proceeds of the Event will go to three beneficiary organisations without deducting any costs: namely the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre (LFSEEC), the Conservancy Association (CA) and the Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe). This is also to show our support to their works throughout the years and our gratitude to these supporting partners.
To realise the true spirit of environmentally-friendliness, the concept of "Leave No Trace (LNT)" is incorporated into the Game design in order to minimise the potential adverse impact on nature and to reduce carbon footprints wherever and whenever possible. Measures through which LNT is incorporated include: - Avoiding the use of disposable items (such as paper cups, packaging) to reduce waste; - Reusing discarded or recycled materials in the Game, such as using used fabrics to produce race packs; - Reusing or recycle materials produced in the Game, such as banners and posters.
6
2. Game Arrangement
Date March 11, 2017 (Saturday) 9:00 am Registration Time (Registration and baggage deposit will start from 9:00 am; briefing will start at 9:30 am) Venue Wang Gung Wu Theatre, Graduate House, The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
How to get there? Please click HERE for detailed directions to the theatre. Please make sure you reserve at least 5 - 10 minutes for walking to the theatre from HKU MTR Exit A2.
Source: http://www.socsc.hku.hk/srcac/pdf/How%20to%20get%20to%20Wang%20Gungwu%20Theater%20HKU.pdf
7
Schedule (subject to on-day arrangement) Time Event Venue
9:00 am Registration and baggage deposit Wang Gung Wu Theatre
9:30 am Briefing of the Game Wang Gung Wu Theatre
10:00 am Start of Game Wang Gung Wu Theatre
The cut-off time is 10:30am.
12:30 pm ● End of Game Lung Fu Shan ● Wait for the announcement of result Environmental Education ● Visit to the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Center Center (LFSEEC) ● Return to Wang Gung Wu Theatre for baggage collection
1:00 pm ● Talk on the ecology and biodiversity of Lung Fu Shan by Wang Gung Wu Theatre LFSEEC ● Result announcement ● Prize presentation ceremony
2:00 pm ● End of event Wang Gung Wu Theatre
Registration and Baggage Deposit ● Every team MUST report to the organiser and double-confirm the number of team members before the Game starts (from 9:00 am to 9:30 am). Please kindly notify our members of staff of the absence of any team members during registration. ● Upon confirmation, please be sure your team have got the race number bib for your team. ● All participants MUST bring along their identification documents for registration. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify participants who fail to do so. ● Participants under 18 years old MUST return the signed "parent or guardian consent form" to our members of staff at the registration counter to qualify for the Game. ● Baggage deposit is available at the registration desk. However, participants are strongly advised to keep the valuables with them. The organiser is NOT liable for loss or baggage damage in any form.
Game Gear Checklist Each team should have the following in hands during the Game: 1. At least one mobile phone with (a) internet access, (b) QR Code scanner as well as (c) WhatsApp installed. Teams without this item will be disqualified; 2. A watch or any devices that can count time; 3. A map showing the locations of checkpoints (provided by the organiser) and 4. A race number bib for each team member (provided by the organiser).
8
3. Rules of the Game General rules ● Each team will receive ONE map marked with locations of the “checkpoints” and the ”municipal waste" points. ● Participants will have to plan their routes carefully in order to reach as many checkpoints as possible (reaching each and every checkpoint as a WHOLE TEAM) and to get the most Green Energy within the given 2.5 hours. ● There are around 40 fixed checkpoints and 4 mobile "municipal waste" checkpoints which will only appear during a specific period of time. As the checkpoints are widely spread across Kennedy Town, HKU, Sai Ying Pun and Lung Fu Shan Country Park, participants are NOT required to reach every checkpoint to complete the Game. ● EACH participant will receive a piece of race number bib for recognition. Participants must put on the race number bib on their chest for identification throughout the Game. Please return it to the organiser upon finishing the Game. ● Participants must run as a WHOLE TEAM in order to gain “Green Energy” from the checkpoints. Our members of staff will patrol in the area to ensure the presence of all the team members at the checkpoint before they can get the “Green Energy”. ● All members of the team must return to the finishing point (i.e. LFSEEC) before the official end time. A delay of less than 15 minutes will result in a deduction of 10 "Green Energy" points. A delay of over 15 minutes will result in disqualification of the whole team. ● Each team should have at least one mobile phone with (a) internet access, (b) QR Code scanner as well as (c) WhatsApp installed. All participants are also encouraged to bring their own mobile phones for safety and communication with the organiser. ● The team with the highest total "Green Energy" points will be the winner. For teams getting the same amount of "Green Energy" points, the winner will be the one that arrives earlier at the finishing point. ● During the Game, participants must follow the instructions of the organisers and event staff members. ● Participants must first return to the finishing point even if they cannot finish the whole Game. ● Participants must arrive at the start point at the designated time, or else they will risk losing their eligibility to take part in the Game. ● During the Game, there will be other country parks users (such as visitors). Participants should always pay attention to their own safety and others’ safety, especially when walking on narrow or steep mountain tracks. Participants should stop and give way to other passers-by whenever necessary. ● The organiser reserves the final decision on the event. All news or updates about the Game will be posted on the event website at http://www.ecobus.org.hk/biodivercityquest.
9
How to obtain “Green Energy” ?
"Green Energy" can be obtained in two ways: (1) reaching the checkpoint and (2) giving the correct answer to the question set for that checkpoint. 1. Reaching the Checkpoint: Checkpoint Green Energy The amount of "Checkpoint Green Energy” of each checkpoint is set with reference to its distance and level of difficulty. The corresponding “Green Energy” of each and every checkpoint will be marked on the map. 2. Answering the Checkpoint Questions: Question-Green-Energy All questions set in the Game are designed with reference to biodiversity (both flora and fauna), cultural features of the sites as well as global and local environmental issues. All questions carry the same Green Energy points. You are encouraged to read the through this Booklet in which some hints about the questions have been dropped. Green Energy Point Scoring System ● The same scoring Green Energy scoring procedures and conditions are adopted. Upon arrival at any checkpoint (either fixed or “municipal waste”), the team should scan the QR Code at that checkpoint, fill in the group number accurately and answer to the question carefully in the Google form that appears upon the QR-code scan. For each correct answer given, the team will be rewarded with the Checkpoint Green Energy together with the additional Question-Green-Energy points. If the answer is incorrect, only the Checkpoint Green Energy will be given to the team. ● Please also be kindly reminded that no Green Energy points (for both Checkpoint Green Energy and the Question-Green-Energy) will be recorded if participants do not click the ‘submit’ button at the end of the Google form. ● Each team should SUBMIT ONLY ONE RESPONSE for each checkpoint. No subsequent submissions by the same team for the same checkpoint will be accepted and they will not be counted. Therefore, all teams are strongly recommended to read the checkpoint-question and answer the question very carefully. Special Notes on “Municipal Waste” Checkpoints ● The four types of municipal wastes adopted for setting checkpoint questions are namely kitchen waste, plastic bottles, styrofoam, and plastic. ● The "Green Energy" that can be obtained from "municipal waste" checkpoints will be higher than the fixed "checkpoints". ● Although the locations of the four "municipal waste" checkpoints are also marked on the map, they are not fixed that they will not be present at those locations all the time. Instead, they will only appear at the marked locations during specific periods of time. Being time- limited, the organiser will therefore inform the teams of the time during which these checkpoints will be available through WhatsApp during the Game, shortly before the presence of those checkpoints.
10
4. Prizes and Souvenirs
Winning Prizes The total "Green Energy” obtained by each team would be calculated at the end of the Game. The three teams with the most “Green Energy” points would receive the following prizes:
Champion: Each team member will be rewarded with a prize pack that is worth around HK$200, including: (1) HK$100 shopping voucher for social enterprise (2) 16oz foldable reusable cup (3) Certificate of merit
First runner-up: Each team member will be rewarded with a prize pack that is worth around HK$150, including: (1) HK$70 shopping voucher for social enterprise (2) Reusable environmental bag (3) Certificate of merit
Second runner-up: Each team member would be rewarded with a prize pack that is worth around HK$100, including: (1) HK$50 shopping voucher for social enterprise (2) 8oz foldable reusable cup (3) Certificate of merit
Souvenirs All participants will receive the following souvenirs: (1) An electronic Certificate of Completion. A hard copy will be offered upon request. (2) Compostable plastic bag. Let’s try plastic free product. Sponsored by FMC Manufacturing Co., Ltd., these bags are made of starch. (3) One drawstring bag Using second-hand fabric, all drawstring bags were sewed by women who used to be tailors in the 80s . It is our hope to preserve resources and to support local production. (4) One bottle of Eco Enzyme (eco-detergent) Eco-enzyme is a multipurpose eco-detergent produced by fermentation of fresh kitchen waste (fruit and vegetable dregs), sugar and water. We hope that our valuable yet scarce water resource can be protected with more people using natural detergents.
11
5. Precautions
Safety Precautions ● Participants are advised to dress appropriately (such as sportswear and sports shoes) for the Game. ● Participants must ensure their physical conditions on that day are suitable for the Game. Participants must abide by and accept the rules. Anyone who is pregnant or has chronic diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, should not take part the event. The organiser reserves the right to disqualify anyone who is known or suspected to be unfit for the event. ● Participants should always be aware of the surrounding and road conditions. They should always be aware of their personal safety on slippery, narrow or steep tracks. ● The organiser has purchased "Group Accident Insurance" for this event (Annex I). Participants are encouraged to purchase additional insurance as needed.
Environmental protection ● We encourage all participants to protect the environment by bringing their own water bottles and towels to reduce the use of any disposable items. Participants should take away their own garbage and always keep the place clean (especially in the Country Park area). The map provided by the organiser will show the location of drinking fountains.
12
6. Arrangement for bad weather and special conditions
● If typhoon signal No. 3 or above, the red rainstorm signal, or the black rainstorm warning signal is hoisted by the Hong Kong Observatory at or before 6:00 am on the day, the event will be cancelled. ● If the Hong Kong Observatory announces that the thunderstorm warning will take effect before the event, the event will be delayed by 30 minutes. If the thunderstorm warning affecting the Hong Kong Island West continues to take effect for more than 1 hour, the event will be cancelled. ● If typhoon signal No. 3 or above, the red rainstorm signal, or the black rainstorm warning signal is hoisted during the event, participants should look for a nearby shelter as soon as possible ● In cases of flooding, mountain fire, landslide, earthquake, road damage, fighting, etc. that happens during event, the event will be suspended or cancelled depending on the situation. All participants shall look for a nearby shelter as soon as possible. The organisers will not be liable for any casualties and losses resulted from the accidental conditions. ● In case the event is cancelled due to bad weather conditions or other uncontrollable incidents in the environment, all event proceeds will still be donated to LFSEEC, CA and CACHe for educational purposes without refund. Ecobus and Greengoers will publish latest news and updates on the event website. ● Participants must comply fully with the instructions and arrangements given by the organisers. ● For any accidents that happen during the Game, such as a collision with participants causing injuries or damages, the organiser will prioritise the safety and health of the participants. First-aid arrangement will be provided swiftly. The event may be temporarily suspended, delayed or cancelled depending on the situations.
7. Emergency contact In case of accident or emergency situations during the event, please inform the organiser immediately by contacting Mr. Tang at 5233 7764, the organiser will provide appropriate assistance as soon as possible.
For any inquiries, please contact us via [email protected].
13
CHAPTER TWO
1. Cultural Features of Central Western District
1.1 Historic Buildings 1.1.1 Pinewood Battery
Pinewood Battery is a historic military site in Hong Kong Island, located 3057 meters above sea level, at the highest point of Lung Fu Shan Country Park.
The gun emplacement was constructed in 1901 and finished after 4 years. It was originally constructed as harbour defense to protect the Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island from the colonial aggrandizement between Russia and France. To control the military budget and comprehend the facilities, another larger battery at Mt. Davis was built to strengthen the protection of western harbour. The guns on Lung Fu Shan were finally removed in 1913 and emplacement abandoned.
After the First World War, with the advancement in the air force, Pinewood Battery was in use again and became an anti-aircraft defense in 1930, more shelters and caretakers quarters were constructed. During the Second World War when the Japanese invaded Hong Kong in December 1941, the Battery was under attack, the gun on the right wing, the predictor and height finder were hit and damaged, soldiers were injured and killed. They evacuated and abandoned the battery on 15th December. Although the guns were removed, other military facilities such as the battery buildings, command post, magazine, lavatory and kitchen are still in good shape. Military painting are still on walls of Caretakers Quarter, which is near the barbeque site. The site became part of the Lung Fu Shan Hiking Trail with leisure facilities now.
Due to Pinewood Battery still have a large number of abandoned barracks, AFDC has set up a warning sign against the war Game to avoid further damage to this historical site.
The Hong Kong government erected several boundary stones in 1903 to mark the limits of the City of Victoria. Measuring 98 cm in height, tapered at the top and with the inscription ‘City Boundary 1903’. As the city’s boundaries were clearly defined by ordinance, these stones were more just physical markers, but are now historical relics. The other remaining boundary stones can be found on Bowen Road, Wong Nai Chung Road, Old Peak Road, Pok Fu Lam Road and Victoria Road.
14
1.1.2 The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) was founded in 1911, it is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong. HKU campus buildings are some of the few remaining buildings examples of Edwardian style architecture in Hong Kong. You can find 4 declared monuments in HKU, which are the Main Building, Hung Hing Ying Building, Tang Chi Ngong Building and The University Hall. And the Main Building is the campus’s oldest structure and the landmark of the university.
The University Hall is composed by Lugard, Eliot and May Halls, which were opened in 1913, 1914 and 1915 respectively, and were named after Sir Frederick Lugard, the first Chancellor of the University; Sir Charles Eliot, the first Vice-Chancellor of the University; and Sir Francis Henry May, the second Chancellor of the University.
These three-storey red-brick buildings were originally used as student hostels. Torrential rain and landslides in 1966 necessitated repairs to Eliot and May Halls. When the works were completed, these three buildings were combined into one residential unit, renamed "Old Halls", in 1969.
In 1992, the oldest building, Lugard Hall, was demolished to make way for campus redevelopment. Eliot Hall and May Hall were converted into offices and classrooms for teaching and research purposes. At present, Eliot and May Halls has been listed as a grade 1 historical building by the Antiquities and Monuments Office.
1.1.3 Lo Pan Temple
Lo Pan Temple was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1884. This Grade I Historic Building is the only temple dedicated to Lo Pan in Hong Kong.
Lo Pan, who lived hundreds of years BC, was the patron saint of Chinese builders and carpenters. The Lo Pan Temple is very old, yet, many construction workers still pay visit to the temple nowadays, especially on Lo Pan’s birthday which is on the 13th day of the sixth Chinese lunar month each year. They wish to pay homage to the sage of their industry and pray for his blessings.
Regarding building conservation in Hong Kong, the status of Declared Monuments is higher than that of Historic Buildings. The former can also receive government funding on renovation works. The Antiquities and Monuments Office has suggested the Home Affairs Bureau to make Lo Pan Temple a Declared Monument, but there are barriers to overcome in the declaration. Firstly, the Temple’s owners will lose the right to develop or modify the building after declaration, making them reluctant to hand over the Temple to the government. Secondly, the title to the Temple has been transferred many times, so it is very complicated. Only after the titles are clarified can the Temple be handed over for government management.
Lo Pan Temple
15
1.1.4 King’s College
Established by the Government on Third Street in 1879 as Saiyingpun School, King’s College was built on its present site in 1926 (officially opened in 1928) and was renamed as King’s College after the relocation of Saiyingpun School to Pokfulam Road in 1891.
King’s College is a school building of great historic interest. It is one of the six remaining pre-war government school buildings in Hong Kong, being the oldest among the six. During World War II, the College was badly destroyed and was used as a military stable for mules and horses of the imperial Japanese Army during the Japanese Occupation (25th December 1941 - 15th August 1945). After the massive destruction of World War II, the school premises were rebuilt, refurbished and was reopened in 1950.
King’s College in 1939 King’s College at present
Described as ‘one of the finest and most modern of school buildings’ in the Administrative Report of the Hong Kong Government of 1926, King’s college was designed and built in the Neoclassical style (e.g. the presence of arched colonnades and colonnaded verandahs). With such rare school architecture, the east, south and north wings together with parts of the school’s retaining walls and boundary walls were declared a monument in 2011. Many distinguished people in Hong Kong, such as the former Director of Hong Kong Observatory Mr. Lam Chiu-ying and world-renowned harmonica player Mr.Ho Cheuk-yin, are alumni of King’s College.
1.1.5 Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe)
The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe) is one of the 163 buildings with Grade 1 status in Hong Kong (Grade 1 confirmed on 18 Dec 2009).
Erected in 1922 as Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital, the building you see now has indeed experienced a lot of changes throughout these years to become the CACHe today: it was first built to provide maternity services and subsequently in 1926 as a hospital for teaching and clinical attachment purposes operated under the Hong Kong University (converted back to the original building use in 1929). In 1955, with the establishment of the new Tsan Yuk Hospital in Hospital Road, the old hospital building was renamed Tsan Yuk Social Service Centre and changed to Western District Community Centre in 1973.
CACHe is currently located at the Community Centre. Established in November 2011, CACHe comprises various functional rooms such as exhibition rooms, conference rooms and education rooms. CACHe is a non-profit conservation group which strives to promote conservation of history, culture and heritage in 16 Hong Kong. Thanks to the generous support from different partners in the community, CACHe over the years has organised a wide range of activities for the public (including exhibitions, workshops, field trips and cultural tours; which have always enjoyed great popularity).
CACHe is one of the three beneficiaries of BiodiverCity Quest.
Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital at present
1.1.6 King George V Memorial Park As the name suggests, King George V Memorial Park was named in remembrance of King George V who died in 1936, the same year when the park was built. Apart from being one of the few parks that are of colonial colour which remind us of our city’s past, the park is also a hotspot of stonewall trees in Hong Kong that 14 out of the 33 stonewall trees (Ficus microcarpa) there have been registered as in the Register of Old & Valuable Trees.
2. Nature Conservation 2.1 Stonewall Trees
The demand for developable land has always been so huge since the founding of our city. In the old days, people developed flat platforms from the hilly terrain primarily by cutting slopes. However, due to the loss of supporting layers, the disturbed slopes are very often unstable and landslides are likely. To stabilise the disturbed slopes, stone retaining walls of various types were therefore built by traditional Chinese masonry techniques.
The stone retaining walls and the stonewall trees in Hong Kong are unique urban landscape as few cities in the world have so many stone retaining walls with spontaneous vegetation in an urban setting.
So where did the seeds come from? While some people may think the plants on the walls were planted for urban greening and beautification, the plants in fact established themselves in a natural way with different components working together.
Since the walls were built by traditional Chinese masonry techniques, normally there are joints between the stonewall blocks. With the help of wind, frugivorous bats and birds, seeds are first brought to wall surfaces. However, the stone retaining walls are indeed a very demanding and harsh growing environment, the future would only look good for those the toughest and those with strangler growing habits.
When the seeds are brought into the stonewall ecosystem, the seeds germinate by relying on the limited moisture available on the wall surfaces (also the groundwater seepage), the soil behind the walls and sometimes bat and bird guano (organic fertiliser!). Plants species commonly found on the walls are some 17 ferns (e.g. Pteris vittata, Adiantum capillus-veneris), shrubs (e.g. Boehmeria densiflora) and some trees (e.g. Celtis sinensis., Broussonetia papyrifera).
The walls can be regarded as one of the urban ecosystems, that they are not only home to trees but also other urban dwellers such as birds (e.g. chinese bulbul, red-whiskered bulbul, sparrows and magpie robin). Organisms in this ecosystem are interconnected as with other organisms in other ecosystems.
Apart from the tree species aforementioned, Ficus spp. constitute a great majority of stonewall tree species in Hong Kong because their strangler growing habits allow them to secure a strong grip on vertical wall surface and hence facilitate them to further develop. A very prominent feature of these stonewall trees is their root network (See Figure 2), that you would see their roots spread over a large area and seem to be intertwined! It is because by extending and by fusing can they capture more water and nutrients for growth.
Distinctive root systems of the wall trees
Forbes Street is one of the hotspots of stonewall streets in Hong Kong. Described by Professor Jim Chi-yung (a tree expert at Hong Kong University) as ‘second-to-none world-class’ city landscape, the three longest and largest stone walls (or stone retaining walls) are found at the Forbes Street (the longest is 154 m). Currently, there are 26 stonewall trees, with 4 of them being registered as in the Register of Old & Valuable Trees.
The Forbes Street tree walls were once under threat. The location of the Kennedy Town Station was originally planned to be right underneath the Forbes Street Playground (See Figure 3). However, with overwhelming public pressure to preserve the tree walls and the stonewall trees, MTR Corporation subsequently decided to shift the location eastwards to the a location underneath the existing Kennedy Town Swimming Pool with an additional cost of $750 million (e.g. to rebuild a new swimming pool).
Construction of the Kennedy Town MTR station was once potential to affect the stonewall trees at Forbes Street
Something noteworthy is: The traditional craft in building stone retaining walls is no longer present. This means no new ‘traditional’ stone walls can be constructed: when you demolish the walls or cut down the stonewall trees, the wall and the trees will be gone forever. This makes the stone retaining walls and the stonewall trees our city’s natural heritage and definitely deserve our proper management.
18
2.2 Lung Fu Shan Country Park
The Lung Fu Shan Country Park was designated in 1998. This smallest-in-Hong Kong country park covers only 47 hectares of land area, reaches the Hatton Road to the east, Harleck Road to the south, and conduits to the north and west.
The Pinewood Battery and shelters are unique attractions in the Lung Fu Shan Country Park. These structures defended western Hong Kong Island and boats in the harbour. During World War II, the Battery was bombed heavily and destroyed by the Japanese Army Air Group, and was eventually abandoned after the war. Despite having erected for more than a century, the structure of these military constructions are still relatively intact among constructions of its kind in Hong Kong. At present, they are good sites for visitors to tour and ponder on the past. Apart from military attractions, the Lung Fu Shan Country Park also has some unique recreational facilities, such as tea tasting installations, coat stands and pebble walking trails.
From the ecological perspective, the Lung Fu Shan Country Park, though tiny, has rich biodiversity. In the country park, we can find over a hundred bird species, as well as the Pallas’s Squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus), East Asian Porcupines (Hystrix brachyura), and many other kinds of animals and plants. Recently, a new ant species, Paratopula bauhinia, was discovered in Lung Fu Shan Country Park. This reflects the rich nature conservation values of country parks.
Established in 2008, the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre (LFSEEC) was located at on the fringe of campus of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and in the vicinity of the Lung Fu Shan Country Park and Pok Fu Lam Country Park. The LFSEEC endeavours to promote education on nature and environmental protection, as well as encourage public’s appreciation of the natural environment. It is now managed by the Sustainability Office of HKU, and is one of the beneficiary organizations of this orienteering Game.
Three Historic Buildings erect in the LFSEEC. They were constructed between 1914 and 1919, serving as the staff quarters for the Water Supplies Department. Originally brick-red, these white buildings have been declared by the Antiquities and Monuments Office as Grade I and Grade II Historic Buildings in Hong Kong respectively. Other than buildings, the LFSEEC also comprises of a garden and an eco-pond. These features are professionally designed and maintained, with the view of attracting wildlife. This idea is arguably successful, as some uncommon birds, such as the Band-bellied Crake (Porzana paykullii) and Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), and amphibians, such as the Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) and Brown Tree Frog (Polypedates megacephalus), have been found visiting or even nesting here.
LFSEEC's daily operation is diversified. Some facilities, including the exhibition gallery, library and automatic weather station, are open to public. Some activities like guided tours, handcraft and green workshops, and outreach talks, are also held from time to time. Participants from all age groups should be able to find features that interest and attract them, allowing them to appreciate the nature and learn related knowledge.
19
3. Global and Local Environmental Problems 3.1 Over-consumption of Seafood
Commonly known as hoi-mei, dried seafood (or dehydrated seafood) is a very common ingredient in Chinese cuisine, from dried abalone and dried scallops to dried shrimps and dried squids. There are just too many to name.
While there are quite a number of shops selling dried seafood in Hong Kong, Sheung Wan is especially famous for its high concentration of these shops (e.g. Bonham Strand, Wing Lok Street). Des Voeux Road West is particularly renowned as dried seafood shops abound along both sides. Very often, it is even known and called as Dried Seafood Street (hoi-mei Street) by Hong Kong people.
The production and trade of hoi-mei have a long history in Hong Kong. Tracing back to mid-19th century, due to civil disorder in mainland China, Hong Kong experienced an influx of refugees from China. Among those refugees, many of them were businessmen. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, they established numerous Nam Pak Hongs (“South-North Trading Houses”) in Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun, with dried seafood being one of their traded goods with their Southeast Asian and Mainland Chinese counterparts.
In fact, the major trade on Des Voeux Road West was at first salted fish only instead of assorted dried seafood. Being a highly specialised large wholesale market of salted fish in early 20th century, each building (3 to 4 storeys high) during that salted-fish-dominated period was mostly utilised fully for business: rooftops used for drying salted fish, floors in between for family-sized factory and residence, the ground for wholesale business. However, salted-fish business experienced a decline later, owing to rapid urban development and dwindling local fish catch, that some shop owners chose to go out of business and some chose to shift their business from selling salted fish to dried seafood so as to fight for survival.
It seems Hong Kong people simply cannot live without seafood. Per-capita speaking, Hong Kong is the second largest seafood-consumer in Asia (with every person consuming an average of 71.6kg seafood per year!) and globally, ranked the eighth.
And for too long it has been mistakenly believed that our ocean is a colossal buffet table, from which we can have unlimited fish stocks for our consumption. In fact, despite being vast and deep, our ocean has been under serious threat of overfishing - we have developed numerous types of fishing techniques to increase the fish catch but we forgot to take a second to think whether the fish population can replace themselves through natural reproduction… Because of this alarming fact, many fish species that used to be very common are now at the brink of extinction, such as bluefin tuna, yellow croaker from China and orange-spotted grouper from Thailand. Some scientists even warned that, if nothing happens to reverse the trend, a huge majority of important commercial fish species will be depleted by 2048, just a matter of a few decades.
Overfishing does not only upset the delicate balance of the marine ecosystem, it also poses a great threat to humanity as for years, we have been heavily depending on our oceans for different types of valuable resources. Fish is only one of such. Once wiped out from the ecosystem, it is gone forever.
Never belittle the power of making right and sustainable seafood-consumption choices. In view of this, WWF in 2014 published an updated version of Seafood Guide, in which more than 70 popular seafood species are divided them into “Green-Recommended” (e.g. abalone from Australia and China, albacore tuna), “Yellow-Think Twice” (Atlantic salmon from Norway, prawn from Queensland, Australia) and “Red- Avoid” categories (bluefin tuna regardless of origin, yellow croaker from China), in the hope of raising public awareness of the problem of overfishing and ultimately offering consumers an opportunity to make
20 sustainable seafood choices.
WWF Seafood Guide
3.2 Trade of Endangered Species 3.2.1 Pangolin
The Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is mammal with its body length from 50 to 90 cm and mainly feed on termites and ants. They are scattered in Hong Kong countryside. The feature of pangolin is its hard scales which work as a protective cover from predator and they curl themselves into ball for protection by the hard scales when they feel threatened
Some Chinese believe pangolin scales can be used as a traditional Chinese medicine for a wide variety of ailments such as anti-inflammatory and painkilling (which have already been proven wrong in nowadays’ medicine). Pangolin is also hunted as Game and so, the number of pangolin declines significantly, in particular in China. Chinese Pangolin has already been classified as “Critically Endangered” under IUCN and Appendix I under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which means a total ban on international trade.
Chinese Pangolin
21 3.2.2 Ivory Being the largest land mammal, elephants do have no natural predators in the natural environment and they can live up to 70 years on average. They are herd animals that they live in groups. Scientists over the years
Mostly found in Africa and Asia, elephants
But their breeding rate is very low, they have long birth interval (4-5 years between calves) and the average gestation period for an elephant is approximately 22 months.
Elephant are herd animals living in groups which are highly intelligent and sociable creatures. There is good bonding built up between elephant members.
Once common throughout Africa and Asia there were approximately 3 to 5 million of them in the last century. They play a vital role in helping maintain forest and savannah ecosystems as they roam around searching for food. They would directly affect the structure and density of ecosystems, creating rich landforms, thereby benefiting other species to live there as well as enriching the biodiversity.
One of example is that they can help reduce the coverage of bushes in the drier open savannah areas, hence provide a favorable environment for different species of herbivores. The elephants move in all the wide field of forest, at least one-third of all tree species in the Central African forests rely on elephants to spread their seeds.
It is an unfortunate fact that in recent years the global illegal hunting and domestic trade in ivory products have exploded, expanding to meet a vastly increased demand for ivory products in Asia. Elephant numbers became severely depleted because of illegal poaching and habitat loss. The population of threatened elephants has declined from between three and five million in the early 1900s to less than 470,000 today. Each year, at least 30,000 elephants are killed in Africa for their tusks which lead to their extinction.
Many people mistakenly think that they can take ivory without killing the elephants. The fact that we usually see the ivory is only two-thirds of the whole ivory, that means the remaining one-third is hidden in their face and has been extended to the skull. Poachers kill the elephants brutally to get their tusks. They use the gun or poison arrows to kill the elephants, and then cut the entire head with an axe, or cut off their face by an electric saw in order to take two bloody tusks.
Hong Kong is the main transit point for illegal wildlife products and the largest ivory retail market in the world. Public sentiment is behind an ivory ban, the motion to ban the domestic trade in elephant ivory was passed by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in December 2016. It is proposed to adopt ivory ban by 2021.
Each year, at least 30,000 elephants are killed in Africa for their tusks which lead to their extinction
22 3.2.3 Leave No Trace
The concept of Leave No Trace (LNT) originated in the United States, with the purpose of educating the public to enjoy the occasion of the mountains also reduce human destruction of the mountains. The “Leave No Trace Seven Principles” are the bedrock of the Leave No Trace program. They provide guidance to enjoy our natural world in a sustainable way that avoids human-created impacts. Some examples of the seven principles are as follows:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare Camping food and equipment should be minimised. Preparation of food is import. Not only the nutrient value should be considered, but also the food should be repackaged to minimise the waste generation in countryside.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces In order to protect the ecology, we should continue to change the location of campsite. Studies have pointed out that camping at the same site for five days will affect the growth of local plants, the ecological will be permanently damaged. Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. In popular areas, concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent. In pristine areas, disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap.
4. Leave What You Find Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts. Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
5. Minimise Campfire Impacts Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires. Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
6. Respect Wildlife Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely. Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
7. Be Considerate to Other Visitors Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises. 23 HONG KONG OUTDOOR ETHICS Supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund, ecobus launched a project called “Countryside Sustainability: Promotion of Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics” during 2015-2016 promoting the “Leave No Trace” concepts to the general public. Through a series of workshops and training camps, a book published named “Hong Kong Outdoor Ethics” and short video clips regarding the principles of Leave No Trace, ecobus promoted the use of country parks in a sustainable manner and the “Leave No Trace” concept. For the video clips, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSQC56E8qq65F7oyqUFUHfQ.
The book “Hong Kong Outdoor Ethics”
3.2.4 Climate Change and Vegetarianism
Vegetarian diet is generally referred to as a dietary practice, which is consisted of plants as the major food source and excludes most or all meat, offal and animal products. Vegetarian diets can be categorised into: ● Lacto-ovo-vegetarian: A diet which excludes all animal products with the exception of eggs and dairy products. ● Ovo-vegetarian: A diet which excludes all animal and dairy products with the exception of eggs. ● Lacto-vegetarian: A diet which excludes all eggs and animal products with the exception of dairy products. ● Strict vegetarian: A diet which excludes all eggs, dairy products, meat, offals and food products of animal origin such as honey and bird's nest.
Adopting vegetarian diet has advantages to both the environment and personal health. Environment: ● Slow down global warming: The livestock industry is among the greatest contributors to global warming, emitting more greenhouse gases than all our cars, trucks, trains and planes combined. Meat has a carbon footprint much higher than plants. 1 kg of beef and pork produces 27 kg and 12 kg carbon dioxide respectively, while the same amount of potato, wheat, tofu and tomato produces no more than 3 kg carbon dioxide. ● Save water: 650 litres of water is required to produce 500g of wheat, while the same amount of beef requires 7000 litre. Comparing with beef, only one-tenth of water is required to produce wheat ● Use land better: Raising livestock occupies a large piece of land, removing the trees and vegetation originally on it, 24 but it could only produce small amount of food. When used for producing beef, 1 acre of land can only produce protein enough to feed 180 people. But when used dor growing wheat, the 1 acre of land can produce protein to feed 3230 people.
Health: ● Lower risks of chronic disease: Vegetarian diet has low-fat content, so the risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancers, obesity, and gallstones can be reduced. It also has high content of dietary fibre, decreasing the risk of colon cancer, piles and constipation ● Curb obesity: Vegetarian food is rich in dietary fibre, which gives a sensation of fullness. So one can control the amount he eats, thereby help in maintaining normal body weight. ● Reduce intake of antibiotics: 55% of the antibiotics manufactured each year are fed to animals, which are then consumed by us. So we are indirectly intaking antibiotics.
Many people are worried that vegetarian diet cannot provide enough protein that we need. However, as long as you eat a well-balanced diet that includes items like nuts and seeds, soy products, whole grains, and eggs, you can obtain more than enough protein.
How to start being a vegetarian? ● routine-based 1 day a week (Green Monday) / every lunch meal ● portion-based reduce meat portion in every meal ● impact based cut high environmental impact food choice (i.e. red meat)
Some nutrients are only found in meat, eggs and dairy products. Since vegetarians do not take meat, they may become deficient in these nutrients. vegetarians need to be particularly careful in the choice and combinations of food, more information can be found in the Department of Health website – Guidelines for Vegetarian Diet.
3.2.5 Earth Overshoot Day
Earth Overshoot Day is the day on which humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in that year. Since 1971 (45 years ago), Global Footprint Network (GFN) has determined the date of Earth Overshoot Day for each year, with the aim to reveal the rate of humans liquidating the ecological resources and accumulating waste.
In 2016, Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 8, humans began to use resources on credit, every day from 8 August onwards. Looking back, when we compare the Earth Overshoot Day in 2016 to the Earth Overshoot Day in 1971 (December 24), humanity in 2016 in fact went into ecological debt very much earlier - 137 days earlier.
Water is one of the vital natural resources on which our survival depends. However, despite its importance, water is very scarce that merely 0.5% of the Earth’s water is available as freshwater for human consumption.
Since showering is water-consuming and Hong Kong people in general take very long showers, Water Services Department has been encouraging the public to take shorter showers (4 minutes as most; 10L of 25 water will be saved for every minute less spent in the shower). While taking a 4-minute shower is a mission impossible for most people, Mr. Lam Chiu Ying (our former Director of Hong Kong Observatory) said 2 minutes are already more than enough for him!
3.2.6 Invasion of Alien Species
Native species are naturally occurred in the environment. The native species in Hong Kong are barking deer, Hong Kong newt, Magpie robin, Chinese Eaglewood etc.
Magpie Robin Barking deer
Hong Kong Newt
Exotic species are plants,animals and other organisms introduced either unintentionally or deliberately as crops, horticulture plants, pets and livestock to area outside their natural geographical ranges. Some exotic species can establish in their new homes. They may compete with native species for limited natural resources and even drive some native species to the brink of extinction.
Characteristic of invasive species: High growth rate, high reproduction rate, strong dispersal ability, and tolerance to wide range of environment Invasive species affect native species through 1. Competition for limited resource(including light,water,food,breeding sites,living space etc) 2. Predation or grazing on native species 3. Introduction of parasites or pathogens 4. The invasion of invasive species may further disturb the local environment by affecting the food chain and nutrient cycle, thus more species suffer
Mikania Mikania (Mikania micrantha) is an exotic perennial herbaceous vine belonging to the family Asteraceae (Compositae). It is originated from tropical South and Central America but is now widely distributed in India, Southeast Asia, Pacific islands and South China including Guangdong and Hong Kong. 26 Similar to the habit of other climbers, Mikania climbs up other plants to reach the canopy for better sunlight. Even worse, its leaves grow vigorously and will cover up other plants eventually causing damage or even killing other plants by cutting out the light for photosynthesis and smothering them. Mikania sprawls out rapidly in spring and summer which is the reason for its name “Mile-a-minute Weed”. Moreover, it reproduces efficiently both sexually by seeds, and vegetatively by rooting at nodes. Mikania has characteristic opposite, heart-shaped leaves, margins irregularly coarsely toothed, 3 - 13cm long. Mikania has much branched and hairless stems, and numerous small heads of densely clustered white flowers with fragrant. Mikania produces small seeds, black in colour, with a terminal tuft of white bristles for wind dispersal.
Mikania
The harm of Mile-a-minute Weed arises from its climbing behavior and growth speed. It has a fine and slender stem that looks weak. But as the stem contacts anything, whether it is tree trunk, wire fence or house, it grows and twists swiftly upwards along the object, producing many leaves. Plants that are climbed by the weed wither quickly because Mile-a-minute Weed competes for water and nutrients with the host, and deprives the host of sunlight.
Mile-a-minute Weed is not the only exotic climbing plant in Hong Kong; other examples are Gairo Morning Glory (Ipomoea cairica) and Thomson's Kudzu (Pueraria lobata var. thomsonii). Nonetheless, their growth and propagating speed cannot compare with Mile-a-minute Weed, so they are less damaging. The growth ability of Mile-a-minute Weed is reflected in its English name. It has been designated as one of 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien species by The World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The control the invasive species involves containment and eradication.It depends on characteristics of species and habitats, and the extent of coverage. Physical, chemical, biological and habitat control are the examples to control the invasive species.
27 4. Ecology and Biodiversity 4.1 Indian Rubber Bush
Indian Rubber Bush (Ficus elastica) is an evergreen tree of Moraceae family and native to Bhutan, northeast India, Myanmar, north Malaysia and Indonesia. It is exotic species to Hong Kong. It is characterized by its fast growth and grow to 20 - 30 meters when it is mature. It yields milky white latex, which was used to make rubber. It is how its name Rubber Bush came from. Normally latex could be yielded normally around six years after it is planted. As its yield is not high, it was then been replaced gradually by Hevea brasiliensis of higher yield. Because of its aesthetic characteristics, it is now of ornamental use.
Indian Rubber Bush Milky white latex from Ficus
Its oval leaves are big and thick. The aerial roots that drop from the truck and major branches can develop into new supporting trucks when they reach the ground. As with other members of the genus Ficus, the fig fruits are an urn like structure lined on the inside with the fig’s tiny flowers. Such features do not allow the insects such as bees or butterfly to enter but requires a particular species of fig wasp with only 2mm of body length to enter and pollinate. More interesting is that there is typically only one species of wasp capable of fertilizing the flowers of each species of Ficus.
Ficus provides fig wasp living places, nursing ground, viable seeds and supports its reproduction. Ficus and fig wasp have an intricate and dependent relationship. This is an example of mutualism in which each organism benefits each other.
4.2 Taro and Giant Alocasia
While Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a popular ingredient for assorted dishes and desserts, Giant Alocasia (Alocasia macrorrhizos) is never a good ingredient choice although it looks very similar to taro. According to the Centre for Food Safety, there have been incidents of people consuming Giant Alocasia (under the mistaken belief of themselves consuming taro) and having to be admitted to hospital afterwards. It is because, unknown to many people, Giant Alocasia contains a chemical called calcium oxalate raphides which can cause a series of allergic reactions (e.g. numbness and burning sensation of the tongue, mouth and lips) and even food poisoning. Therefore, it is strongly advised not to pick or consume wild fruits and vegetables.
Despite the similar appearance, there is a simple way for general identification: Microscopically, unlike taro, the leaves of Giant Alocasia do not have hairs. With leaves of smoother surface, when you drip some water onto the leaves of Giant Alocasia, it is very unlikely for water to form globs of water (Image D) like the way it forms on the leaves of taro (Image C).
28
Image A ImageB
Image D Image C
4.3 Four Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong As the old saying goes, we must not try to eat or even to touch some unknown plants as many species are poisonous. Goat Horns (Strophanthus divaricatus), Hindu Datura (Datura metel), Graceful Jesamine (Gelsemium elegans) and Strychnos spp. together are commonly known as the four most poisonous plants in Hong Kong.
Graceful Jesamine Hindu Datura Goat Horns ( Strychnos spp.) (Gelsemium elegans) (Datura metel) (Strophanthus divaricatus)
29 4.4 Chinese Fan Palm and Short-nosed Fruit Bat
Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) is not native to Hong Kong but is commonly seen in local urban parks. It can attain heights to 20 m and its leaves are fan shaped of 1 - 1.8 m width. Chinese Fan Palm not only is for the purpose of ornamental and greening use but serves as the raw materials for production of various products such as fan, broom, raincoat. Its roots and fruits are edible as well.
Fan palm and bats
The relationship between Chinese Fan Palm and short nosed fruit bat are intriguing. It is common to see short nosed fruit bat in Hong Kong and they bites off the center part of palm fruit clusters, leaving a hollow for hanging and becoming their nesting areas to protect its family members. It can be seen in countryside but also urban parks. Previously, short nosed fruit bats were found nesting in Kowloon Park.
Bats are the only mammals that can fly and comprise 27 species in Hong Kong which is almost half of the mammal species here. Bats are nocturnal and dwell in cave, catchwater channels, waste mine caves during the daytime. Bats could be divided into insectivorous bats and fruit bats in Hong Kong and both are important to the ecosystem. Fruit bats including the short nosed fruit bats have important roles as pollen or seed dispersers through eating the fruits and excreting to farer places. Insectivorous bats play an essential part in keeping the populations of night flying insects in balance by catching and eating large amount of insect during the nighttime. A single bat can catch thousands of insects and large colonies of bats catch tons of insects in one night, including species of beetles and moths that are agricultural pests. Though bats are active at night and we are not aware of them in our daily lives, bats are of great use.
Some people may think bats are blind but actually they have good eyesight so as to hunt for prey. Apart from its eyesight, bats navigate and hunt through echolocation. Ultrasonic sounds are emitted specifically to produce echoes which is then compared with the outgoing pulse to detect, localize and even classify their prey in complete darkness. It is similar to the radar system of the detective flight and the sonar system of the underwater navigation.
Because of the story of vampire bats, bats may give people a scary image. Though there are vampire bats, they are only in Americas rather than in Hong Kong or China area. In Chinese, the pronunciation of Bats is a homophone for the word “fortune” and hence, gives a symbolic meaning of auspiciousness and fortune in Chinese culture. Bat figures are embodied in many traditional painting / patterns.
In Hong Kong, the survival of bats are under various threat. Urban development and deforestation significant reduce the habitat for bats and some people even set traps to catch bats. In this regard, some voluntary organisations install the camouflaged bat boxes to provide artificial roosts for bats and minimize the human disturbance to bats.
30
Chinese Fan Palm Short-nosed fruit bat
4.5 Wild Boar
Wild boars have short thick hairs over their bodies. Adults can reach a body length of up to two metres, and males even have tusks. Wild boars are omnivorous, mainly feeding on plants’ roots and bulbs, as well as insects and earthworms in the soil. This explains their act of ruffling the soil with their noses while foraging.
Distributing all over Hong Kong, wild boars are commonly seen by us. They may, sometimes, intrude on urban areas, disturbing our daily lives. In 2015, a wild boar was found bursting into a shopping mall at Heng Fa Chuen, messing up the shops. It was eventually anesthetized and seized after a long period of time. Despite these incidents, wild boars, in general, are timid and afraid of humans. They seldom attack humans, and have not caused casualties in most encounters before. Food deficiencies on hills and the desire to search for food are the main reason for some wild boars to intrude into urban areas occasionally. Therefore, to reduce the probability of wild boar intrusion, we have some roles to play. Firstly, we should not feed stray animals with the view of avoiding leaving behind food that attracts wild boars. Secondly, with the same intent, we should handle our outdoor garbage appropriately, especially those containing food. Our awareness can help prevent wild boars from interfering our daily lives.
In the meantime, we ought to rethink about how humans should get along with wild boars. We dislike the wild boars disturbing our homes, so similarly, we shall not disturb them at their homes. When we encounter wild boars in the nature, we shall keep calm and hide until they leave, rather than to approach, provoke or try to drive them away. From a wider perspective, humans are also intruding into wild boars’ homes when we expand our settlements to countryside or green belts. This narrows wild boars’ habitats, raising their chance of bursting into human society.
4.6 Golden Birdwing
Hong Kong possesses 236 butterfly species. This number is four-fold to that of Britain, though Hong Kong’s land area is about 200 times smaller. Thanks to her warm subtropical climate and presence of diversified habitats, Hong Kong can support the growth of plentiful plant species that give home to many butterflies.
The Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus) is the largest butterfly in Hong Kong in terms of size. Females that are generally larger than males can have wingspan reaching 16 cm. Adults have brilliant red, yellow and black colours, appearing glittering and graceful in flight.
The Golden Birdwing has close relationship with a plant species -- the Indian birthwort (Aristolochia tagala). This is the only plant with leaves on which females lay their eggs and caterpillars will feed. Without a substitute, any destructions to the plant’s habitat will be influential to the butterfly’s population. The butterfly-plant relationship is, therefore, very close and interdependent. 31
Appearance of the Golden Birdwing in Hong Kong is rare and limited to places where the Indian birthwort grows. Together with the much alike species -- Common Birdwing (Troides helena), this pair is the only two species of insect under legal protection. Without permission, catching, possessing and trading the adults, chrysalis, caterpillars and ova of these two butterflies will be illegitimate.
Golden Birdwing
4.7 Country Parks
Hong Kong is a metropolis renowned for her dense concrete jungle, yet, 70% of land area is indeed still natural or rural, and 40% of land has already been designated as country parks. Country parks are statutorily protected from urban development. They cover different parts of the territory and includes various types of land, such as mountains, woodland, reservoirs and seashores. Their designation aims at protecting the nature, and at the same time, offering recreational and educational grounds for the public.
The history of country parks can be traced back to the mid-20th century. During World War II, the Japanese army cleared much woodland for fuelwood, baring Hong Kong’s mountains. This later required afforestation to curb soil erosion. After the war, population surge also underlined the need for more recreational land. For these reasons, the government started to consider designating country parks, and eventually, the Country Parks Ordinance was enacted in 1976. Following this enactment was the designation of the first batch of three country parks, namely Shing Mun, Kam Shan and Lion Rock Country Parks. Since then, the 24 country parks were set up progressively and designation work is still continuing now. In 2017, a new country park - the Robin’s Nest Country Park - was proposed by the government. In the near future, the number of country parks will increase to 25.
The designation of country parks in Hong Kong follows seven major criteria, which reflect the intrinsic values and aid demarcation of country parks. The designation criteria are as follows: 1. Conservation value: possessing diversified, rare and representative ecological, geological and historical resources. 2. Landscape quality: having unique, intact and non-degraded natural landscape. 3. Recreation potential: providing safe and compatible countryside activities. 4. Size: being a large piece of connected (non-fragmented) land. 5. Land status: preferably being government land, but private land will not be automatically excluded. 6. Proximity to existing country parks: being connected to other protected areas, so efforts on landscape protection and nature conservation can be strengthened. 7. Land use compatibility: being mainly mountains, woodland, village houses or agricultural farms, and not having extensive settlement.
32 Provision of recreational grounds is one of the aims of country park designation, so country parks are managed actively by the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), instead of left untouched. A wide range of park facilities are provided, including tables and benches, barbecue pits, hiking trails, road signs, pavilions, campsites and toilets. These facilities allow visitors from all age groups to find suitable activities to enjoy the nature. Every year, country parks serve about 11 million visitors. This count is anticipated to rise further in light of the popularizing hiking culture in society.
Along with increasing country park usage are a number of challenges. First of all, hill fires are occurring constantly, notably in dry seasons. This hazard may develop naturally, but most hill fires in country parks are the result of visitors’ carelessness. Grave sweepers not extinguishing joss sticks and paper are the case in point. In 1996, a large hill fire in Pat Sin Leng Country Park resulted in five deaths, alerting us to the issue. Another challenge brought by visitor influx is the load of rubbish, as well as destruction to land surface, hiking trails and ecology. For this reason, the AFCD is regularly inspecting and maintaining various park facilities. We, as visitors, should also take good care of country parks, and abide by the Leave No Trace principles (See Section 3.3). Further, illegal felling or poaching of some commercially valuable species in country parks is becoming prevalent. These species include incense trees, Golden Coin Turtles (Cuora trifasciata) and pangolins. This poses serious threats to country parks’ endeavors on nature conservation.
Apart from visitors, urban development is exerting pressure on country parks. Announced in the 2017 Policy Address, the government is considering to “allocate a small proportion of land on the periphery of country parks with relatively low ecological and public enjoyment value for purposes other than real estate development, such as public housing and non-profit-making elderly homes”. Some scholars have even pointed to a 170-hectare land within the Tai Lam Country Park, stating that the land has potential for development. A ‘land for land’ approach has been proposed, meaning that another piece of land of the same area is suggested to be designated as country park, in exchange for the development. However, not only do these proposals infringe framework of country park designation, but they also overlook the country parks’ values other than ecology and recreation. The future of country parks is thus filled with uncertainty.
4.8 Geopark
Hong Kong’s geopark was established in 2009 as a national-level geopark, named Hong Kong National Geopark. In 2011, the geopark was accepted as a member of the Global Geoparks Network and became a global-level geopark. The current official name, Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, was named in 2015. Being at such proximity to a metropolis is a unique feature of Hong Kong’s Geopark.
The Geopark is committed to protecting the rocks and landforms, educating geological knowledge, promoting geo-tourism, and encouraging community involvement. All these lead to sustainable socio- economic development. Legally protected by the Country Parks Ordinance and Marine Parks Ordinance, the Geopark is prohibited from any unnecessary constructions that may impact the environment.
The Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark consists of two geological regions, namely the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region and the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region:
The Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region encompasses four geo-areas, including Double Haven, Tung Ping Chau, Tolo Channel, as well as Bluff Head and Port Island. Diversified rock types, geological features and geomorphological structures can be found in this region. The rocks at Bluff Head is the Hong Kong’s oldest outcrop, revealing the geological history of Hong Kong. The clenched fist-like rock is also a well-known landmark in the world. Landforms like faults, folds and sea stacks display the vigour of volcanic and erosive processes of the nature.
33 The Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region also comprises of four geo-areas, including High Island, Ninepin Group, Ung Kong Group and Sharp Island. This region displays a large collection hexagonal rock columns of international significance. Formed millions of years ago, these rock columns are exclusive in the world in terms of distribution, diameter, length and stratum thickness, offering high values for scientific research, education, aesthetics and recreation. The Geopark’s logo is also designed based on the hexagonal rock columns. In addition, geomorphological features like sea caves, sea arches, and tombolos can be found in this region, serving as ideal educational materials to learn geological knowledge.
4.9 Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a special area with distinctive values in ecology, geography or geology. The designation of SSSI aims at strengthening the protection of species and habitats that are not included in current protected areas like country parks. Currently, the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has designated 66 SSSIs, covering terrestrial and marine sites all over the territory.
Areas of SSSIs diverge greatly. The Inner Deep Bay, the largest SSSI (over 2000 hectares) in Hong Kong, conserve a huge piece of wetland for over 200 species of birds to inhabit. The Lin Ma Hang Stream, located in the Northern District in close proximity to the Shenzhen borders, is the smallest SSSI (only 0.6 hectare). This tiny SSSI conserves the habitat of freshwater fish and some rare fish species.
SSSIs are documented in the statutory plans and displayed in the Outline Zoning Plans of the Planning Department. This is expected to prevent the valuable ecosystems from being impacted by development projects. However, unlike other protected areas like Country Parks and Marine Parks, SSSIs bear no legal protection. Receiving no proper management and monitoring from the government, SSSIs may face considerable development pressure.
4.10 Designated Marine Parks and Marine Reserve
At present, five marine parks and one marine reserve have been designated in Hong Kong. The five marine parks are: Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, Yan Chau Tong Marine Park, Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park, Tung Ping Chau Marine Park and The Brothers Marine Park. The Brothers Marine Park was only designated in December 2016, with the aim to help better conserve the Chinese White Dolphins, their habitats and enhance the marine and fisheries resources therein. The only Marine Reserve in Hong Kong is in Cape D’Aguilar. These Marine Parks and Reserve are managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and are for the purposes of conservation, education and recreation. Hong Kong coastline and the diverse marine life are under various threats including pollution, overfishing/ unsustainable or improper fishing method, reclamation, etc. There is a need to protect and conserve the marine environment through designating the marine parks and marine reserve with a goal of reaching the harmony between marine life and human.
34 ANNEX 1 INSURANCE DETAILS
Company: Cathay Insurance Insured event: BiodiverCity Quest – Greengoer Orienteering Game Risk Location: Hong Kong Island West ( Sai Ying Pun, Kennedy Town, HKU, Lung Fu Shan Country Park) Insured Period: 11 Mar 2017
:
Remarks
35
ANNEX 2 REFERENCE Pinewood Battery http://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chI/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_lfs/cou_vis_cou_lfs.html https://issuu.com/lfseec/docs/lung_fu_shan_self_guided_tour_bookl
The University of Hong Kong http://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/see-do/culture-heritage/historical-sites/colonial/university-of- hong-kong.jsp http://www.hku.hk/visit/campusbuilding.php?m=heritage&t=dm&bdg=main https://www.e123.hk/ElderlyPro/details/24159/66/http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/b5/trails_ west2.php?tid=6
Lo Pan Temple http://www.heritage.gov.hk/tc/buildings/lopan.htm http://www.master-insight.com/content/article/7924
King’s College http://www.amo.gov.hk/b5/monuments_101.php# http://www.amo.gov.hk/b5/trails_west1.php?tid=14 http://www.kings.edu.hk/school-history http://cache.org.hk/blog/syp_church_kingscollege/ https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%8B%B1%E7%9A%87%E6%9B%B8%E9%99%A2
Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe) http://www.aab.gov.hk/b5/aab.php http://www.amo.gov.hk/b5/built2.php http://www.aab.gov.hk/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf http://www.cache.org.hk/ http://www.heritage.gov.hk/tc/buildings/lopan.htm https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E5%9C%A8%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF- %E6%80%8E%E6%A8%A3%E6%89%8D%E8%83%BD%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91- %E5%BA%A7%E6%AD%B7%E5%8F%B2%E5%BB%BA%E7%AF%89- 040000444.htmlhttps://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E5%9C%A8%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF- %E6%80%8E%E6%A8%A3%E6%89%8D%E8%83%BD%E6%8B%AF%E6%95%91- %E5%BA%A7%E6%AD%B7%E5%8F%B2%E5%BB%BA%E7%AF%89-040000444.html
King George V Memorial Park http://www.hk-green.com/news/new161_029.htm http://ovt.lcsd.gov.hk/map/?lang=zh-hk#3676147 https://issuu.com/seenetwork/docs/walltreebooklet https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/香港佐治五世紀念公園
Wall Trees https://www.greening.gov.hk/filemanager/content/pdf/tree_care/Guilelines_for_stone_wall_trees_c.pdf https://issuu.com/seenetwork/docs/walltreebooklet https://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E7%9F%B3%E7%89%86%E6%A8%B9%E5%92%8C%E6%96%87%E6%AD%A6 %E5%BB%9F- %E9%AC%A7%E5%B8%82%E4%B8%AD%E7%9A%84%E7%89%B9%E8%89%B2%E5%AD%98%E5%9C%A8- 050000660.html http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20140712/18797392
36 http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/projects/treedata/wil-treedata.html
Lung Fu Shan Country Park http://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chI/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou_lfs/cou_vis_cou_lfs.html http://www.sustainability.hku.hk/lfseec/index.html
Overconsumption of Seafood http://www.wwf.org.hk/?9680/WWF-Launches-Seafood-Guide-2013 http://www.wwf.org.hk/whatwedo/oceans/supporting_sustainable_seafood/ http://awsassets.wwfhk.panda.org/downloads/wwfhk_seafood_guide.pdf https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E5%8D%97%E5%8C%97%E8%A1%8C http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ant/sheungwan/HKDiscovery66-SheungWan.pdf http://www.com.cuhk.edu.hk/ubeat_past/050468/saltfish.htm
Ivory http://awsassets.wwfhk.panda.org/downloads/wwf_ivorytrade_chin_eversion.pdf http://www.wwf.org.hk/whatwedo/wildlife/combating_illegal_wildlife_trade/ http://www.wwf.org.hk/?14620/press-release-Hong-Kong-legislators-support-a-ban-on-the-trade-of- elephant-ivory http://www.wwf.org.hk/?13820/Press-release-New-Report-shows-that-Hong-Kong-Displays-Worlds- Largest-Number-of-Ivory-Items-for-Sale https://theinitium.com/article/20151202-parenting-newsforkids-elephant/ http://www.eleaid.com/elephant-information/elephant-tusks/ http://www.wwf.org.hk/?15860/Press-Release-WWF-study-shows-ivory-trade-in-Hong-Kong-could-be- banned-within-two-years-while-government-proposes-a-closure-by-2021
Leave No Trace Principles https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles http://www.ecobus.org.hk/site/education-programs/l-n-t/
Climate Change and Vegetarianism https://www.studenthealth.gov.hk/tc_chi/health/health_dn/health_dn_vdn.html http://www.cheu.gov.hk/b5/info/2plus3_36.htm http://greenmonday.org/zh-hant/
Earth Overshoot Day https://theinitium.com/article/20150814-dailynews-resources/ http://www.wwf.org.hk/?16080/Running-into-the-Earth-deficit--what-can-you-and-our-Government-do http://www.wwf.org.hk/news/?13960/Feature-stories-Earth-Overshoot-Day--what-everyone-can-do-to- reduce-our-Ecological-Footprint
Invasion of Alien Species https://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/conservation/hkbiodiversity/speciesgroup/speciesgroup_birds.html https://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/conservation/hkbiodiversity/speciesgroup/speciesgroup_mammals.ht ml https://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/conservation/hkbiodiversity/speciesgroup/speciesgroup_amphibians.h tml http://www.greenpower.org.hk/html/chi/2011_12.shtml https://www.wetlandpark.gov.hk/images/wcms/Factsheet%2019.pdf
Indian Rubber Bush http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20041220/4524833 37 http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/6901/6901_S_E.pdf http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/6901/6901_S_E.pdf https://www.polyu.edu.hk/greencampus/trees/Ficus-elastica.html http://www.hktree.com/tree/Indian_Rubber_Tree1.htm
Taro and Giant Alocasia http://herbarium.gov.hk/subpages.aspx?id=6220 http://pansci.asia/archives/111987 http://www.cfs.gov.hk/tc_chi/whatsnew/whatsnew_fst/whatsnew_fst_Beware_Food_Poisoning_Giant_Al ocasia.html http://kplant.biodiv.tw/%E5%8D%83%E5%B9%B4%E8%8A%8B/m/%E5%8D%83%E5%B9%B4%E8%8A%8B- Xanthosoma%20sagittifolium.htm
Four Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong http://hktree.com/tree/Datura%20metel1.htm http://henvchan.weebly.com/393212820722235228232760233609.htmlhttp://henvchan.weebly.com/393 212820722235228232760233609.html https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh- hk/%E7%BE%8A%E8%A7%92%E6%8B%97#/media/File:Strophanthus_divaricatus2.jpg http://hktree.com/tree/Gelsemium%20elegans2.htmhttp://hktree.com/tree/Gelsemium elegans2.htm http://syhuherbarium.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/collections/factsheet/strychnos-angustifolia/ http://herbarium.gov.hk/DocFile/Publications/2014325175287342.pdf http://www.discuss.com.hk/viewthread.php?tid=26305379&extra=page%3D11
China Fan Palm and Short nosed Fruit Bats http://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/6777/6777_S_E.pdf http://www.hktree.com/diary/10w27b.htm http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20060126/5607904 http://www.kfbg.org/chi/blogs/Bats.aspx
Wild Boar https://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/conservation/con_fau/con_fau_nui/con_fau_nui_pig/con_fau_nui_pig.ht mlhttps://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/conservation/con_fau/con_fau_nui/con_fau_nui_pig/con_fau_nui_pig.html https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_fau/con_fau_nui/con_fau_nui_pig/files/Wild_Pig_Lea flet.pdf https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_fau/con_fau_nui/con_fau_nui_pig/files/Wild_Pig_Leaflet.pdfht tps://goo.gl/0fIF7n
Golden Birdwing www.greenpower.org.hk/html/download/literature_review-butterflies&plant.doc https://butterflyclub.greenpower.org.hk/chi/article.php?id=2
Countrypark http://www.afcd.gov.hk/tc_chi/country/cou_lea/the_facts.html http://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2017/chi/p116.html
Geopark http://www.geopark.gov.hk/index.htm
Site of Special Scientific Interest http://www.hk-place.com/view.php?id=144 38
Marine Park and Marine Reserve http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_mar/cou_vis_mar.html
39 40