21st Country Parks Visitor Liaison Group Meeting

Date:	16 Oct 2004（Saturday）
Time:	2:30p.m. to 4:30p.m.
Venue:	Room 907, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices

Participants:	李清鴻先生	甘勝安先生
	沈志偉先生	陳旭明先生
	劉新強先生	周國強先生
	黃智仁先生	黎民鏗先生
	冼卓先生	梁欽誠先生
	陳善榮先生	吳兆偉先生
	胡蔭全先生	伍國民先生
	李國輝先生	Leung Lok Man
	Au Kai Woon	Polly Chan
	Gordan Mak	Paul Melson

AFCD representatives:	Dr. F.Y. Wong (Chairman)
	Dr. K.M. Yeung
	Mr. K.W. Cheung
	Mr. Y M LEE (Interpreter)
	Miss K Y YANG（Recording）

          Please click on the photos to enlarge.

Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed all participants and invited participants to introduce themselves.

Report on Work of Country Parks
Miss YANG reported recent publicity work and visitor services of the Authority:

a)	Hong Kong Book Fair 2004 – The Authority participated in the Book Fair in July this year. More than 10 books were published including Tree Lovers’ Companion, Freshwater Fish in Hong Kong, Venturing Wetlands, The Ecology and Biodiversity of Hong Kong, 《樹影鵂鶹》, Hong Kong Butterflies, Appreciating Wild Birds, Venturing Sai Kung East, Beauties of Pat Sin and Geo-dairy, etc.,
b)	An API (Announcement in the Public Interest) featuring Hiking Safety with emphasis on having companion in hiking and knowing distance post has been broadcasted since October in TV and Radio stations,
c)	Tree-diary – Since October, the Authority has released “Tree-diary” to major newspapers each Sunday, to introduce interesting geographical landmarks.
d)	Appreciating Nature with Respect – Public would be invited to visit 5 designated Nature Trails on Sunday from 31/10 to 21/11. Participants who could finish any 4 Trails would receive a token to enter a web game. Winners of the web game would be invited to participate in the “ Meeting the Experts” tours.
e)	The Authority would employ 50 Country Parks Ambassadors to assist in the above events and other country parks activities.

Suggestions and responses

1. Enforcement
1.1 One member requested the authority to erect warning sign to alert public not to take bath with soap at Wong Lung Hung. And one member suspected an illegal stone paving of road beside Tai Shing Stream.
The authority promised to follow up the cases.

1.2 One member reported that he has seen people collecting herbs on Sunday at Sunset Peak.
One member suggested some identification for herbalists who held a permit.
The authority explained that some herbalists were permit holders and they had to carry their permits. In case of doubt, public could call the police direct, contact regional ranger offices or dial 1823.

2. Hiking Trails
2.1 One member pointed out that the path “Fu Chung Keng” was an important escape route but was missing from the map. One suggested to build a new path to Ma Shi Teng where one could view the Plover Cove. One suggested to build a new path leading to peak of Chung Hum Kok.
The authority replied that owing to limited resources, maintenance of existing paths would come first rather than construction of new path.

2.2 One member enquired if Tai Shing Family Walk has been cancelled.
The authority replied that the path had been cancelled.

2.3 One member suggested to name the “unnamed island”on the leaflet introducing Ma Chi Chau as “Wu Long Tau”.
The authority explained that it was the Lands Department who determined the name of a place but not the authority.

2.4 One member suggested the authority to scale down the use of concrete in making steps such as the path at Gilwell Scout Campsite, Maclehose Trail stage 4 whereas the one at Kei Ling, Maclehose Trail stage 3 was justified to make use of concrete.
The authority said that concrete steps would only be used if there were no other alternatives such as eroded area. The authority would also continue its maintenance work at Kei Ling Ha.

2.5 One member enquired when the closed path at Sha Chau would be reopened.
The authority replied that the concerned area was not country park. The authority have discussed with the Lands Department, Home Affair Department, Highway Department and Civil Engineering Department about the path but no conclusion has come up yet.

3. Way-marker and Information Broad
3.1 One member suggested the authority to organize training courses on the use of grid reference and other map skills. He also queried that the distance between M67 and M68 was less than 300m.
The authority replied that when talking about education and promotion, message should be kept as simply as possible. In the meantime, it was important to focus the use of distance post in rescue. It was beyond the ability of the authority to provide public education about UTM. The distance posts were strategically located so that they might not always 500m apart.

3.2 One member pointed out that there were too many number plates on site (e.g. “Your Location”, “Shelter No”, distance post, etc.) and wondered which one could be used for rescue.
The authority replied that all of them could be used.

3.3 One member pointed out that distance posts and grid references were limited to Long Distance Hiking Trails and Country Trails only.
The authority replied that grid references could be found on interpretative plates of all Nature Trails. Naming of existing forest tracks was also in progress.

3.4 One member suggested to install signs of “Knows your limit” instead of “No path ahead” at path not under maintenance, e.g. Tai She Teng. He also suggested to provide connecting path at Ng Tung Chai.
The authority replied that lethal landslide has been recorded at the said path at Ng Tung Chai. Geo-technicians reported that the said area was a fault and landslide might happen with no prior sign. It was therefore necessary to erect warning sign there.

4. Toilets
4.1 One member pointed out that there was insufficient toilet along Wilson Trails, e.g. the Tai Po and Hok Tau region. Also, reflective signs were missing at some landmarks. One member pointed out that existing toilets were too narrow for two backpackers to go in and out at the same time. Visitors proposed to install toilets at Tsin Shui Wan Au, Shum Wat, Twist Camp Site and High Junk Peak Country Trail.
The authority replied that since SAR happened last year, the authority have spent 2.3million dollars to improve the lighting, ventilation and water supply of 21nos of toilets. Anyway, not all the places were suitable for installation of toilets due to their geographical conditions.

5. Mobile Phone Coverage in Countryside
5.1 One member pointed out that under free trading market, it was difficult for the authority to force the mobile phone companies to increase the coverage in countryside. However, the authority was still recommended to encourage the companies to increase the coverage through sponsorship. One member pointed out that there was no network coverage at West Dam, High Island and Pat Sin Leng.
The authority replied that both the mobile phone companies and Telecommunications Authority were informed of the need, but owing to various commercial factors, some places in the countryside were still not covered. Generally, the mobile phone coverage has been greatly improved in recent years. The authority welcomed the installation of emergency help lines at the suitable places.

6. Hill fire
6.1 One member enquired if there was linkage between smoking and hill fire and proposed to ban wholly smoking in country parks.
The authority replied that there was no direct linkage and it was not easy to ban smoking in country parks. However, discarding of cigarette end would be prosecuted.

6.2 One member enquired if more fire break would be created.
The authority explained that fire break could not stop spread of hill fire but just slow down the speed. Generally speaking, the authority will first focus at ecological sensitive areas.

6.3 One member enquired if the authority have plan to tackle hill fire caused by grave sweeping activities during Chung Yeung Festival.
The authority replied that working group formed together with Civil Aids Service and Fire Service Department would enhance prevention and protection of hill fire one week prior to and after Chung Yeung Festival every year.

6.4 One member understood the difficulties in tracing sources of hill fire and urged the authority to increase patrol frequency.
The authority replied that prosecution has been taken against people causing hill fire in the past.

7. Visitor Services
7.1 One member suggested the authority to sell maps at Warden Posts to promote Lantau Country Parks.
The authority replied that offering sale of maps at Warden Posts would require substantial facilities and manpower. Leaflets introducing various country parks were being distributed at all Country Parks Visitor Centres.

7.2 One member suggested to make use of vender machine to sell maps at 24 hours.
The authority replied that the proposal has been investigated and was found cost ineffective.

7.3 One member suggested to publish newsletter on the Visitors Liaison Group Meeting.
The authority replied that notes of meeting could be downloaded from AFCD web.

8. Tree Planting
8.1 One member requested the authority to carry out more tree thinning at Shek Mun Kap and preserve the native forest of Nam Shan.
The authority replied that active conservation measures have been taking to enhance the biodiversity of woodland on Lantau Island.

8.2 One member pointed out that Mikania was widespread at Tung Chung Road and enquired how to combat the spread of Mikania.
The authority replied that priority would be given to ecological sensitive areas inside country parks. A herbicide named “sulfometmon-methyl” was being used.

8.3 One member enquired if the government would carry out mass planting in countryside that distinctive local landscape would be hidden. For example, the trees planted at Tai Lam Country Trail have changed the outlook of the mountains there and the gullies at Castle Peak Firing Range should be preserved.
The authority replied that diverse habitats would be maintained but tree planting at gullies was required to prevent soil erosion.

8.4 One member pointed out that coverage of grassland above 500m was decreasing gradually from 01 to 04. Native woodland at northeast territories was very distinctive that should be preserved. It was inappropriate to plant Acacia, Pandanus and thorn, etc along trails to hinder hiking.
The authority replied that neither Pandanus nor thorn was planted.

8.5 One member urged the authority not to plant Tree Cotton that would cause lung disease.
The authority replied that no Tree Cotton was planted.

8.6 One member suggested to plant trees at Tin Ha Shan litter refuse area.
The authority replied that trees have been planted there already.

9. Others
9.1 One member enquired the designation of North Lantau Country Park.
The authority replied that the full plan on development of Lantau Island was being reviewed and special land use would be considered then.

9.2 One member enquired if the divertion and blockage of Ngong Ping River due to cable car construction was permanent since the flow at the lower part was clearly diminished. Photos were prepared for further investigation by the authority.
The authority replied that due to the construction of cable car station and bus stop, the river divertion was permanent. The authority was pleased to have related information for further discussion with the construction company. (Photos and letter dated 29.7 to SCMP were received after the meeting)

9.3 One member enquired why stream tracking was not promoted.
The authority replied that stream tracking was rather risky and not suitable to promote to general public.

9.4 One member pointed out that robbery in countryside still happened and the police should increase the patrol frequency.
The authority replied that both the Police and Civil Aids Services have empowered patrol in countryside and public were more aware of robbery as well.

9.5 One member urged the authority to lower the prices of the publications.
The authority replied that the price was already very low.

9.6 One member enquired how the authority tackle the monkey and stray dog problems.
The authority replied that sterilization was being taken to monkeys and the Animal Control Center has been assisting in catching the stray dogs.

End of meeting
The meeting ended at 4:30p.m.