DOCSLIB.ORG

Information Note. 3 Review of Environmental Baseline Conditions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Information Note. 3 Review of Environmental Baseline Conditions INFORMATION NOTE. 3 REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE CONDITIONS BACKGROUND 1. As mentioned in the Inception Report of the HK2030 Study, we will establish and update the environmental baseline conditions of Hong Kong by making use of currently available information. We have made use of the Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century (SUSDEV 21 Study)'s environmental baseline database for this purpose which provides the most comprehensive account of the characteristics and trends in the baseline environment of Hong Kong from the territory-wide, strategic and sustainability perspectives. 2. On the basis of the latest available data/information and the consultation with relevant bureaux/departments, a broad update of the environmental baseline conditions is provided in the following paragraphs. We will continue to update the baseline conditions upon the availability of findings of relevant studies, such as Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong (to be commissioned by PlanD this year). 3. This paper covers the work completed so far on the on-going task of baseline information updating. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE CONDITIONS Natural Resources Capital Stock Land Supply 4. Hong Kong has a total land area of about 1,099 km2. However, land suitable for development in Hong Kong is extremely limited due to topographical constraints and that the existing land uses have occupied most of the developable land in the metropolitan areas. 5. Table 1 below summarises the broad land use pattern in Hong Kong whereas Table 2 shows the type of uses of the developed lands within the territory. Table 1 - Broad Land Use Pattern in Hong Kong Land Use Categories Area (km2) % Woodland/Shrubland/Grassland 741.17 67.4% Developed lands 229.84 20.9% Farmland, fish ponds & livestock farms 69.7 6.3% Reservoirs & streams/nullahs 28.46 2.6% Barren Land (badland, quarries & rocky shore) 23.58 2.1% Swamp & mangrove 6.44 0.6% Total 1099.19 100% Table 2 - Usage of Developed Lands in Hong Kong Land Usage Area (km2) % Housing 66.94 29.1% Roads/Railways/Airport 49.49 21.5% Vacant development land/ construction in 27.21 11.8% progress Other urban or built-up land 24.25 10.6% (incl. cemeteries/crematoriums, public utilities) G/IC 19.96 8.7% Industrial (incl. warehouse & storage) 19.7 8.6% Open space 19.41 8.4% Commercial 2.88 1.3% Total 229.84 100% Source: Final Report of the Consultancy Study to Analyse Broad Land Use Pattern of Hong Kong (Table 5.4), PlanD, April 2001. Agriculture and Fisheries Resources 6. In common with many other major cities of the world, Hong Kong's agriculture and fisheries resources do not fully support local demand for fresh foodstuffs. Only 7% of fresh vegetable and 6% of freshwater fish were produced locally in 2000. 7. The area of cultivated lands (excluding fish ponds) in Hong Kong has declined by more than 50% between 1954 and 2000. Of the remaining 2,710 ha in production in 2000, the majority is used for fish farming (47%) and market gardening (30%). 8. In Hong Kong aquaculture includes inland pond fish culture, marine fish culture and oyster culture. In 1999, production from the aquaculture sector was 5,807 tonnes which was 4 per cent in weight of the total fisheries production. Amongst which, a majority of the production (77%) was freshwater fish reared in local inland ponds. 9. In recent years, overfishing and coastal developments have resulted in a drastic decline in fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters. According to the baseline data of the SUSDEV 21 Study, catches landed in Hong Kong had declined from a peak of just over 90,000 tonnes in 1976 to just over 50,000 tonnes in 1996. In order to enhance fisheries and promote bio-diversity in Hong Kong's marine environment, AFCD has been implementing the artificial reef programme since 1996. The four existing artificial reef deployment sites are located at Hoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau Tong, Sha Chau and Chek Lap Kok. The effectiveness of the artificial reefs is encouraging that bio-diversity and abundance of commercial fishes found around the artificial reefs are much higher than those observed in nearby natural rocky shore areas. In 1999, the fishing industry in Hong Kong produced an estimated 127,780 tonnes of fresh marine fish, with about 90% of the total catch coming from waters outside Hong Kong.1 Freshwater Supply 10. The Water Supplies Department (WSD) compiles various data on the supply and consumption of freshwater in Hong Kong. The quantity of freshwater supplied and consumed per annum for the period from 1990 to 2000 are shown in the graph below 2. The majority of Hong Kong's freshwater (76% in 2000) is supplied from the Dongjiang River in the Guangdong Province. Text Version 11. Since 1990, the growth rate of the overall water demand has dropped to approximately 0.6% per annum. The reduction in growth rate may be due to the significant decrease in industrial water consumption as a result of the relocation of many industries outside Hong Kong. It is forecast that further reduction in the industrial demand for water will occur as a result of stricter pollution control policies and the availability of cheaper land and labour elsewhere prompting more industries to relocate outside Hong Kong. 12. In 2000, 229 million m3 of seawater was supplied for flushing purposes. Approximately 80% of the population of Hong Kong uses seawater for flushing. This extensive use of seawater has helped to reduce the demand on freshwater for flushing purposes. Solid Waste Disposal 13. The database of solid waste statistics is compiled annually by EPD as part of the Solid Waste Monitoring Programme. According to EPD's "Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong 1999", Hong Kong generated 51,468 tonnes of solid waste and reusable materials daily in 1999. About 35% (i.e. 18,040 tpd 3) of the solid waste generated required disposal at landfills, while the remaining 65% (i.e. 33,428 tpd) was recycled and reused. 14. The major types of solid waste requiring disposal were municipal solid waste (MSW) (9,270 tpd) and construction & demolition (C&D) material (7,890 tpd). MSW is further classified into domestic, commercial and industrial wastes. The intake of solid waste for the three strategic landfills in 1999 is given in Table 3 below. Whereas the disposal of solid waste by type from 1990 to 1999 is shown in Table 4 below. Table 3 - Intake of Solid Waste requiring Disposal at Landfills in 1999 C&D Material Intake / Total C&D MSW Intake / Total C&D Material Landfill MSW Intake (tpd) material for MSW for disposal Intake (tpd) disposal WENT 4,340 47% 1,320 17% NENT 2,600 28% 790 10% SENT 2,330 25% 5,780 73% Total 9,270 100% 7,890 100% Text Version Table 4 Disposal of Major Solid Waste by Types, 1990-1999 Quantity of Waste by Type (tonnes per day) Year Municipal Solid Waste C&D Special TOTAL Domestic Commercial Industrial Sub-total (landfilled) (landfilled) 1990 5,460 380 1,270 7,100 8,450 360 15,920 1991 5,560 400 1,430 7,390 16,380 340 24,110 1992 5,760 460 1,710 7,930 11,960 320 20,210 1993 6,000 570 1,880 8,450 11,520 250 20,220 1994 6,070 700 1,660 8,430 15,480 390 24,300 1995 6,210 520 1,060 7,790 14,120 350 22,260 1996 6,260 1,090 800 8,140 7,520 490 16,150 1997 6,760 1,220 700 8,680 6,480 620 15,780 1998 6,820 1,290 620 8,730 7,030 790 16,560 1999 7,430 1,250 590 9,270 7,890 880 18,040 Remark: Figures are rounded off to the nearest 10 tpd and may not add up to the total due to rounding-off. 15. Domestic waste showed a continuous increasing disposal trend over the last decade. Its quantity was primarily dependent on population which also increased steadily during that period. For the other waste types, their quantities were affected by the territory's economic and construction activities. The generation rate of domestic waste in 1999 was 1.06 kg per person per day, about 4% higher than that of 1998. The generation rate of commercial & industrial (C&I) waste was 0.59 kg per employee per day in 1999, taking account of the total employment size in the territory. 16. As regards waste recovery, 4,208 tonnes of recyclable materials in the MSW were recovered daily (about 31% of the total MSW generated in Hong Kong). The major recyclable materials were paper (44%), ferrous metals (35%), plastics (10%) and non- ferrous metals (5%). 17. The amount of C&D material intake at landfills rose drastically between 1990 and 1991, and maintained at high levels throughout the first half of the last decade. The substantial reduction after 1995 was a result of joint effort amongst government departments in providing new barging points and public filling outlets for inert C&D material and promoting the reuse of the material, as well as support from the construction trade. In 1999, 29,220 tonnes of inert C&D materials were reused daily for land formation (about 79% of the total C&D materials generated). As a result of continuous diversion of inert C&D material to public filling areas, the overall intake of C&D materials at all landfills was only 44% of the total waste landfilled in 1999, comparing with about 64% in 1994 and 1995.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Draft Po Toi Islands Outline Zoning Plan No. S/I-PTI/1
    Islands District Council Paper No. IDC 28/2015 Draft Po Toi Islands Outline Zoning Plan No. S/I-PTI/1 1. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to seek Member’ views on the draft Po Toi Islands Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/I-PTI/1 together with its Notes and Explanatory Statement (ES) (Annexes I to III). 2. Background 2.1 Pursuant to section 20(5) of the Town Planning Ordinance (the Ordinance), the Po Toi Islands Development Permission Area (DPA) Plan is effective only for a period of 3 years until 2 March 2015. An OZP has to be prepared to replace the DPA Plan to maintain statutory planning control over the Po Toi Islands areas upon expiry of the DPA Plan. 2.2 The draft OZP was preliminarily considered and agreed by the Town Planning Board (the Board) on 5 December 2014. The draft OZP was submitted to the Lamma Island (South) Committee (LISRC) and the Islands District Council (IsDC) for consultation on 12 December 2014 and 15 December 2014 respectively. As suggested by Ms. YUE Lai-fun, Member of IsDC, another meeting with LISRC was held on 23.1.2015. In response to the local residents’ request, a meeting with the local residents of Po Toi was also held on 30.1.2015 to listen to their concerns on the draft OZP. Views of the LISRC and IsDC together with other public comments on the draft OZP were then submitted to the Board for further consideration on 13 February 2015. After considering all the views and comments received, the Board agreed to publish the draft OZP under section 5 of the Ordinance.
    [Show full text]
  • Geodiversity, Geoconservation and Geotourism in Hong Kong Global
    Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 126 (2015) 426–437 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association jo urnal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pgeola Geodiversity, geoconservation and geotourism in Hong Kong Global Geopark of China Lulin Wang *, Mingzhong Tian, Lei Wang School of Earth Science and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: In addition to being an international financial center, Hong Kong has rich geodiversity, in terms of a Received 22 November 2014 representative and comprehensive system of coastal landscapes, with scientific value in the study of Received in revised form 20 February 2015 Quaternary global sea-level changes, and esthetic, recreational and cultural value for tourism. The value Accepted 26 February 2015 of the coastal landscapes in Hong Kong was globally recognized when Hong Kong Global Geopark Available online 14 April 2015 (HKGG), which was developed under the well-established framework of Hong Kong Country Parks and Marine Parks, was accepted in the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) in 2011. With over 30 years of Keywords: experience gained from managing protected areas and a concerted effort to develop geoconservation and Coastal landscape geotourism, HKGG has reached a mature stage of development and can provide a well-developed Hong Kong Global Geopark Geodiversity example of successful geoconservation and geotourism in China. This paper analyzes the geodiversity, Geoconservation geoconservation and geotourism of HKGG. The main accomplishments summarized in this paper are Geotourism efficient conservation management, an optimized tourism infrastructure, a strong scientific interpretation system, mass promotion and education materials, active exchange with other geoparks, continuous training, and effective collaboration with local communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Minutes of 1054 Meeting of the Town Planning Board Held on 14.3.2014
    CONFIDENTIAL [downgraded on 28.3.2014] Minutes of 1054th Meeting of the Town Planning Board held on 14.3.2014 Sha Tin, Tai Po and North District Agenda Item 6 Consideration of the Draft Ping Chau Development Permission Area Plan No. DPA/NE-PC/B (TPB Paper No. 9580) [Closed meeting. The meeting was conducted in Cantonese.] 1. The following representatives of Planning Department (PlanD) were invited to the meeting at this point: Mr C.K. Soh - District Planning Officer/Sha Tin, Tai Po & North (DPO/STN), PlanD Mr David Y.M. Ng - Senior Town Planner/New Plans (STN) (STP/NP(STN)), PlanD 2. The Chairman extended a welcome and invited the representatives of PlanD to brief Members on the Paper. 3. Members noted that a replacement page of the Paper was tabled at the meeting. With the aid of a Powerpoint presentation, Mr C.K. Soh, DPO/STN, briefed Members on the details of the draft Ping Chau Development Permission Area (DPA) Plan No. DPA/NE-PC/B as detailed in the Paper and covered the following main points: Location and Physical Characteristics (a) the Ping Chau DPA (the Area), with an area of about 29 hectares, - 2 - covered part of Ping Chau Island in Mirs Bay, the easternmost outlying island of Hong Kong; (b) a large part of Ping Chau Island was included in the Plover Cove (Extension) Country Park and was surrounded by the Tung Ping Chau Marine Park designated in 2001 for its diverse coral communities and marine ecosystem; (c) Ping Chau Island was accessible by sea with a public pier located near Tai Tong at the northeastern part of the island.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Council
    立法會 Legislative Council LC Paper No. CB(2)1419/15-16(04) Ref : CB2/PL/FE Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene Background brief prepared by the Legislative Council Secretariat for the meeting on 10 May 2016 Promotion of green burial Purpose This paper provides background information on green burial services provided by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department ("FEHD") and summarizes major concerns of members of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene ("the Panel") on the subject. Background 2. The Government's columbarium policy is underpinned by a three-pronged strategy which included enhancing the supply of public niches, regulating private columbaria and promoting green burial. According to the Administration, green burials, which include scattering human ashes in Gardens of Remembrance ("GoRs") or at sea and paying tribute to the deceased through the Internet Memorial Service ("IMS") website launched by FEHD, provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way for the disposal of ashes. Gardens of Remembrance 3. There are currently 11 GoRs in operation under the management of FEHD. These GoRs are located in the eight public columbaria in Cape Collinson, Diamond Hill, Wo Hop Shek, Fu Shan, Kwai Chung, Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Lamma Island. Dedicated walls are erected in GoRs for mounting plaques in memory of the deceased. Memorial rituals may be performed before scattering cremains. The public can choose to have the ashes of the deceased scattered by themselves or by FEHD staff. In addition, there are two GoRs, - 2 - one in the Junk Bay Chinese Permanent Cemetery managed by the Board of Management of Chinese Permanent Cemeteries and the other in the Pokfulam Chinese Christian Cemetery managed by the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union.
    [Show full text]
  • A Magazine for the Women of Hong Kong • April 2017 the EXPERTS in INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE OPENING SEPTEMBER 2017
    A Magazine for the Women of Hong Kong • April 2017 THE EXPERTS IN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE OPENING SEPTEMBER 2017 DAILY OR BILINGUAL STANDARDIZED ACADEMIC STEMinn CHINESE MAP® TESTING PROGRAM MONTHLY OPEN HOUSE EVENTS & INFORMATION SESSIONS We are pleased to launch a new campus in Hong Kong, September 2017, following our huge success at Stamford American International School in Singapore, which today has over 3,000 students from 70 nationalities. We offer a rigorous standards-based curriculum for students from 5 to 18 years, graduating students with the International Baccalaureate Diploma* to 1st tier universities worldwide. Contact Us [email protected] +852 2500 8688 www.sais.edu.hk *Stamford American School Hong Kong will apply to the International Baccalaureate for program candidacy in December 2017. Individualized Learning Plans from Age 5 Secondary and readies them for their future careers as ST scientists, engineers and business leaders. PUTTING YOUR CHILD 1 Stamford’s Outstanding Results Our students at our Singapore campus consistently ACHIEVING MORE THAN THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN achieve above the U.S. benchmark in their MAP® assessments. In Elementary, our students’ scores in Reading and Math are greater than the benchmark by one year CAMPUS OPENING on average. Progressing to Secondary, Stamford students perform above the benchmark in Math and Reading by two SEPTEMBER 2017! or more years on average. In fact, the average Stamford Grade 6 student performs above the benchmark for Grade Every student at Stamford undergoes standardized 10 students in Reading, four grade levels above the norm. Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP®) assessments These outstanding MAP® results combined with the in Reading, Math and Science twice a year, allowing International Baccalaureate Diploma Program have led us to measure their academic growth throughout 90% of our graduates from Stamford’s Singapore campus to the school year and from year to year.
    [Show full text]
  • MARINE DEPARTMENT NOTICE NO. 54/2021 (Statutory Requirement and Related Information)
    MARINE DEPARTMENT NOTICE NO. 54/2021 (Statutory Requirement and Related Information) Speed in Restricted Zones The attention of owners, operators, coxswains and masters of pleasure vessels and all other vessels are drawn to section 9(3) of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F) and regulation 19(3) of the Shipping and Port Control Regulations (Cap. 313A), which set out the speed limit for ALL vessels within restricted zones. The restricted zones are specified in the Eighteenth Schedule to the Shipping and Port Control Regulations. A summary of the speed limit and restriction period in each restricted zone is set out in paragraphs 2 to 4 below. 2. The speed limit of the following restricted zones is 5 knots between 8 a.m. and 12 midnight on any Saturday or public holiday; and any day from 1 July to 15 September (both days inclusive) - TOLO HARBOUR T1 Plover Cove T2 Sha Tin Hoi T3 Ko Tong Hau T4 Three Fathoms Cove T5 Wu Kai Sha T6 Sam Mun Tsai PORT SHELTER AND ROCKY HARBOUR K1 Tai She Wan K2 Tsam Chuk Wan K4 East Kiu Tsui Chau K5 West Kau Sai Chau K6 South Kau Sai Chau K7 Bluff Island K8 Clear Water Bay K9 Sor Sze Mun K10 Ma Tau Wan K11 High Island K12 Yeung Chau We are One in Promoting Excellence in Marine Services - 2 - 3. The speed limit of the following restricted zones is 5 knots between 8 a.m. and 12 midnight on any Saturday or public holiday; and any day from 1 April to 31 October (both days inclusive) - HONG KONG ISLAND, SOUTH A1 To Tei Wan A2 Tai Tam Harbour A3 Stanley Bay A4 Chung Hom Wan A5 South Bay A6 Deep Water Bay A10 Tai Tam Bay A11 Repulse Bay LAMMA ISLAND A7 Luk Chau Wan A8 Sham Wan CHEUNG CHAU A9 Tung Wan LANTAU ISLAND L1 Discovery Bay 4.
    [Show full text]
  • GEO REPORT No. 282
    EXPERT REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE PROPOSED GEOPARK IN HONG KONG GEO REPORT No. 282 R.J. Sewell & D.L.K. Tang GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE CIVIL ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION EXPERT REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE PROPOSED GEOPARK IN HONG KONG GEO REPORT No. 282 R.J. Sewell & D.L.K. Tang This report was originally produced in June 2009 as GEO Geological Report No. GR 2/2009 2 © The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region First published, July 2013 Prepared by: Geotechnical Engineering Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department, Civil Engineering and Development Building, 101 Princess Margaret Road, Homantin, Kowloon, Hong Kong. - 3 - PREFACE In keeping with our policy of releasing information which may be of general interest to the geotechnical profession and the public, we make available selected internal reports in a series of publications termed the GEO Report series. The GEO Reports can be downloaded from the website of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (http://www.cedd.gov.hk) on the Internet. Printed copies are also available for some GEO Reports. For printed copies, a charge is made to cover the cost of printing. The Geotechnical Engineering Office also produces documents specifically for publication in print. These include guidance documents and results of comprehensive reviews. They can also be downloaded from the above website. The publications and the printed GEO Reports may be obtained from the Government’s Information Services Department. Information on how to purchase these documents is given on the second last page of this report.
    [Show full text]
  • Head 43 — CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
    Head 43 — CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Controlling officer: the Director of Civil Engineering will account for expenditure under this Head. Estimate 2002–03................................................................................................................................... $915.2m Establishment ceiling 2002–03 (notional annual mid-point salary value) representing an estimated 1 497 non-directorate posts at 31 March 2002 reducing by eight posts to 1 489 posts at 31 March 2003......................................................................................................................................... $499.0m In addition there will be an estimated 35 directorate posts at 31 March 2002 and at 31 March 2003. Capital Account commitment balance................................................................................................. $24.0m Controlling Officer’s Report Programmes Programme (1) Tourism and Recreational This programme contributes to Policy Area 5: Travel and Development Tourism (Secretary for Economic Services). Programme (2) Port and Marine Facilities This programme contributes to Policy Area 3: Air and Sea Communications (Secretary for Economic Services). Programme (3) Site Formation and This programme contributes to Policy Area 22: Buildings, Reclamation† Lands and Planning (Secretary for Planning and Lands) and Policy Area 23: Environmental Protection and Conservation (Secretary for the Environment and Food). Programme (4) Slope Safety and These programmes contribute to Policy Area 27: Intra-
    [Show full text]
  • Ahoy-Jul-Aug16 Eversion-2
    2 | JUL/AUG 2016 AHOY! Contents 14 25 18 27 THE BRIDGE FEATURES ROWING OTHER SPORTS 4 Calendar – July 14 Edmond de Rothschild 30 VRC Race Series 41 Squash 6 Calendar – August Spring Regatta – Race 5 Shek O 41 Snooker 8 Commodore’s Message 18 Jeanneau Class Regatta 31 10 th Toda International 9 Past Commodore’s Message Masters Regatta 10 General Manager’s Message 34 Schools Invitational EVENTS | PROMOTIONS 11 Change of Guard SAILING Rowing Regatta 42 F&B Food Promotions 11 Past Commodores’ Dinner 22 Starter’s Box 44 Wine Page 12 Kellett Island Development 24 Race Management 46 Wine Form Sub-Committee review MARINE of the year 35 Ship Shop 25 Martin Heath Memorial Cup 37 Marine | Boatyard CLUB LINES and Sausage Sizzle 37 Classified Page 48 Annual Staff Party 26 Sir Kenneth Preston Regatta 39 Marine Directory 50 Club Directory 27 Top of the Gulf Regatta 50 Members, Staff and Other 29 Sailing Development | Training News and Announcements PHOTO: RHKYC / GUY NOWELL Edmond de Rothschild Spring Regatta www.rhkyc.org.hk Vice Patrons Jimmy Farquhar, Li Fook Hing, Bob Wilson; Commodore Robert Stoneley; Vice Commodore John Woo; Rear Commodore Sailing TBA; Rear Commodore Club TBA; Honorary Secretary Mark Yeadon; Honorary Treasurer George Li; Rowing Captain Ng Kong Wan. For other Club contact details please refer to the Club Directory on page 50. Advertising or Editorial Enquiries contact RHKYC PR Department at [email protected] or 2239 0307 or 2239 0312 Ahoy! Design Michelle Shek, MYND Design. Articles for Ahoy! can be emailed to [email protected] The Club reserves the right to edit articles.
    [Show full text]
  • Chairman and Members of the Country and Marine Parks Board Via Mr
    Chairman and Members of the Country and Marine Parks Board via Mr. LAI Chuen Chi, Patrick Assistant Director (Country & Marine Parks)(Acting) Country and Marine Parks Branch Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (Email: [email protected]) By email only 18 September 2015 Dear Chairman and Members of the Country and Marine Parks Board, Joint Green Groups’ Request for the Designation of Po Toi Islands Country Park In 2012, during the designation of the Po Toi Islands Development Permission Area (DPA) plan, the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) submitted a formal request to Planning Department (PlanD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to designate Po Toi as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and ultimately designate it as Country Park (CP) for comprehensive management and protection for its rich biodiversity and geological attributes. In early 2015, the draft Po Toi Islands Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) was 1 gazetted, however, the SSSI/CP proposal was not reflected in the draft OZP. The HKBWS, along with nine other organizations, are concerned over the lack of adequate biodiversity and geological protection available under the Town Planning Ordinance, and request for the designation of Po Toi Islands as a Country Park under the Country Parks Ordinance for the long term conservation of the area. A proposal prepared by the HKBWS describing the conservation value of Po Toi and detailed justifications for the request is attached (Attachment 1). It is a revised version of the proposal made in 2012 so as to include the latest findings. The revised proposal was also submitted to the Town Planning Board in April 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Seven of the Best Places to Go Rock Climbing in Hong Kong, Plus
    SCMP.COM Seven of the best places to go rock climbing in Hong Kong, plus preparation tips and why it’s good for your health and fitness PUBLISHED : Saturday, 12 August, 2017, 5:17pm UPDATED : Saturday, 12 August, 2017, 5:17pm Lifestyle › Health & Beauty Kylie Knott [email protected] Hong Kong’s many pristine granite and volcanic cliffs make it a great place to indulge in a sport that provides an intense workout for both body and mind – all while enjoying the great outdoors Big webs usually mean one thing: big spiders. And there are a lot lurking around on this hot and steamy July Saturday, the creatures patiently waiting for lunch in the centre of webs that stretch across our path. “Duck your head – there’s a lot on this part of the path,” says Francis Haden, stopping to peer closely at a web. “They’re called Nephila pilipes [also known as the northern or giant golden orb weaver]. The females are the big black and yellow ones, the males small and brown. They’re not venomous to humans but the females have huge fangs – you’ll know it if you’ve been bitten.” The four best sights in Hong Kong’s below-the-radar geopark and how to visit them [1] Haden knows a lot about nature – he used to be a reptile handler in Australia. But his number one passion is rock climbing and today we are on Tung Lung Chau, also known as Nam Tong, a relatively small island (2.42 square kilometres) off the tip of the Clear Water Bay Peninsula in the New Territories.
    [Show full text]
  • Jockey Club Age-Friendly City Project
    Table of Content List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. i List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Overview and Trend of Hong Kong’s Ageing Population ................................ 3 1.2 Hong Kong’s Responses to Population Ageing .................................................. 4 1.3 History and Concepts of Active Ageing in Age-friendly City: Health, Participation and Security .............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project .............................................................. 6 2 Age-friendly City in Islands District .............................................................................. 7 2.1 Background and Characteristics of Islands District ......................................... 7 2.1.1 History and Development ........................................................................ 7 2.1.2 Characteristics of Islands District .......................................................... 8 2.2 Research Methods for Baseline Assessment ...................................................
    [Show full text]