RDFC Paper No. 7/2020 Annex 4
Annex IV Environmental Hygiene Problem in Stanley and Shek O During Holidays Responses by Relevant Government Departments (a) Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has all along been committed to keeping country parks clean and promoting the protection of countryside to the public. AFCD launched the “Take Your Litter Home” publicity and education programme in 2015 in collaboration with a number of local partner organisations to encourage the public to nurture a good habit of taking away their own waste after hiking or visiting country parks, and all litter containers and recycling bins along the hiking trails within country parks have been removed by the end of 2017. Since the launch of the “Take Your Litter Home” publicity and education programme, it has been effective in enhancing the public awareness towards waste reduction and environmental conservation during their visit to the countryside. Noting that many members of the public visited the country parks recently, AFCD has agilely deployed manpower to step up site inspections and cleansing, and provided litter containers of large volume at specific sites for the use of visitors where necessary. Regarding the situation of Tai Tam Country Park and Shek O Country Park, AFCD has deployed staff and cleansing contractors for carrying out daily cleansing at recreational sites and hiking trails inside the concerned country parks. If serious litter problem is found at individual locations, AFCD also stepped up cleansing effort as appropriate. In addition, AFCD has also strengthened education and publicity efforts through various channels, including displaying banners and posters in country park areas with high visitor flow, urging visitors to maintain environmental hygiene through radio programmes and advertisements at MTR, further promoting “Take Your Litter Home” and good hiking manners, and publicising relevant messages through the networks of non-governmental organisations and partner organisations.
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