|
23rd Country Parks Visitor Liaison Group Meeting
23rd Country Parks Visitor Liaison Group Meeting
Date：29.10.2005（Saturday）
Time: 2:30 to 5:00 pm
Venue：Room 701, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices
Participants:：
李以強先生
沈志偉先生
何國雄先生
吳兆偉先生
謝國榮先生
陳子鍵先生
Mr. Dave Newbery
Ms. Judy Love-Eastham 劉康孫先生
周 照先生
邱信強先生
陳旭明先生
彭祿勝先生
任佩蓮小姐
Board Members of the Country and Marine Parks Board： Dr. Lo Wing Kok
Mr. Leung Wing Hang
Mr. Kwok Chi Piu
AFCD representatives： Dr. F.Y. Wong (Chairman)
Dr. K.M. Yeung
Mr. Y.M. Lee (Secretary)
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed all participants and invited participants to introduce themselves.
Report on Work of Country Parks
Dr K.M. YEUNG reported recent work of the authority.
1. Enriching Countryside Educational Information
Ways to facilitate teachers and students to obtain countryside educational information were taken by the authority as follows:
a. Empowering the Country Park website;
b. The educational web site “HK Nature.net”(http://www.hknature.net) would be revamped and launched in early December to collate all the widely used nature education material (suggested teaching activities, nature vocabulary and recommended countryside learning venue, etc) into one web site.
2. Hiking Safety
a. A booklet on hiking safety entitled “18 Hiking Safety Hints”with lively illustrations and clear hints was published in collaboration with District Councils to raise public awareness on hiking safety.
b. The Hiking Practice Trail at Pak Tam Chung would be opened for public use on 10th November.
3. “Hiking Diary”
The authority joined hand with the newspapers to publish “Hiking Diary” weekly to introduce to public highlights, flora and fauna of different country parks. Leisure journeys of two-days-one-night were also firstly introduced to encourage public to fully utilize country park resources.
4. The extension works of the Chinese Medicinal Plant Garden at LNEC was completed. Number of plant species to be exhibited would be increased to more than 550. The opening ceremony was scheduled on 5th November.
5. The Hong Kong Wetland Park would be designated as Special Area on 1st October 2005. It was anticipated to open in mid 2006.
Suggestions and responses
1. Hiking Safety
1.1 The representative of the Hong Kong Hiking Association, China (HKHA) introduced the hiking safety seminar co-organized by the HKHA, the AFCD and the Civil Aid Service (CAS) on 22nd November 2005. They welcomed all hiking tour guides and public to participate.
1.2 One member enquired the progress of improving the mobile phone network coverage in country parks. Another member suggested installation of mobile phone base station at Hoi Ha Hill Fire Lookout.
The authority introduced measures taken including:
a Coordinated by the Office of Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), two mobile phone base stations were established recently at Yuen Ng Fan (High Island Reservoir) and Shek Uk Shan, Sai Kung. The mobile phone network coverage in Sai Kung Country Parks was enhanced. The authority has been offering nominal rental rates to mobile network operators to facilitate installation of base stations at suitable locations.
b To install satellite mobile phone station at Sai Kung (Remarks: two satellite emergency hotlines were installed at Pak Lap and Chui Tung Au (Trailhead to Sai Wan), Sai Kung and would be in use in November 2005)；
c To encourage corporate sponsors to support the installation of emergency hotlines；
d To organize seminar on hiking safety with relevant organizations such as the CAS, the Hong Kong Scout Association, and the HKHA, etc
e To enhance the awareness of country parks users on the area where mobile phone network coverage is limited or absent.
1.3 One member expressed that hikers should be responsible for own safety. Full mobile phone coverage in countryside did not imply full safety. Hikers should well prepare for hiking.
1.4 One member suggested making reference to the Fire Danger Warning to provide “Hotness index” to hikers.
The authority replied that the Hong Kong Observatory had the Very Hot Weather Warning already.
1.5 One member suggested the authority to install warning signs at dangerous path and the hikers to bring along whistle.
The authority replied that whistle has long been promoted for emergency use. There are currently around 800 nos. of different signs in country parks.
1.6 One member suggested promoting the use of walkie talkie and the opening of private channel for emergency use.
Another member expressed that walkie talkie could enhance communication within or among hiking groups.
The authority welcomed hiking groups to make use of walkie talkie for supporting each others, nevertheless, caution should be taken to avoid excessive use of walkie talkie for non-emergency use as that might lead to noise pollution in turn.
1.7 One member suggested establishing channel similar to that of aviation use for receiving stress calls, and only rescue teams could communicate with the callers.
The authority replied that mobile phone was so popular that even without coverage; one could dial 112 or call local police via roaming service. The authority also provided phone numbers of major police stations in recently published hiking safety booklet. The OFTA also publicize the use of mobile network/services in country parks for emergency communication (web site: http://www.ofta.gov.hk/en/ca_bd/country_park.html).
1.8 One member suggested to use traditional name (土名) for emergency use. Another member expressed that rescue teams might not be familiar with the traditional name (土名) and the use of grid reference could avoid confusion.
The authority replied to promote the use of map and compass. Grid reference is internationally recognized and could ensure accurate communication among victim and rescue teams.
One member pointed out that senior hikers might not be familiar with the use of grid reference. The authority suggested to use grid reference as far as possible and traditional name (土名) to supplement.
2. Country Park Facilities
2.1 One member pointed out that use of concrete and cement in path construction would assist novice hikers but would exert damage to ankle joints of long distance hikers, suggested to make use of wood and sand or abandoned log along trails.
The authority replied that path construction is always visitor-orientated. Natural material was used as far as technical and environmental conditions were possible. Owing to the high humidity of Hong Kong, it was difficult to use untreated log.
2.2 One member enquired if the authority would construct steps at path of severe condition along the trail around the Plover Cove.
The authority replied that there are concerns of other groups that concrete steps might compromise the natural setting. The authority constructed steps only at part of the more challenging sections of the Plover Cove trail so as to conserve the natural setting as far as possible.
2.3 One member enquired how the authority would assist inexperience visitors if huge group of hikers might utilize country parks for outdoor activities during peak of flu.
The authority replied that ample of information is readily available for country park users such as enhanced interpretative signs, published hiking leaflets with maps and booklets on recommended trails etc. The authority has been organizing courses and seminars with hiking groups to assist public to learn more about the countryside resources.
3. Nature Conservation
3.1 One member supported to protect precious natural scenery such as the newly designated Special Area Ma Shi Chau and Lai Chi Wo, enquired if it was possible to escalate the countryside scenic ranking of site of appreciating interest (e.g. Tai Long Wan, Sharp Peak, etc). The purpose is to enhance the protection and to minimize the construction of concrete steps, small houses and large scale antennae.
The authority replied that nearly 40% of the land in Hong Kong was designated as country parks. Flora and fauna as well as natural scenery are protected by the Country Park Ordinance against development and human destruction. Designation of Special Area was mainly based on particular interest such as geographical features.
4. Pak Tam Chung Barrier Gate, Sai Kung
4.1 The authority raised the suggestion from Sai Kung District Council on lifting of the barrier gate for comment.
4.2 Member Mrs Judy Eastham, a committee member of the Economic Development Sub-committee of the Sai Kung District Council, supplemented that supporters of the motion suggested that the operation of the barrier gate has caused inconvenience to Sai Kung residents and lifting of the barrier would promote regional tourism and enhance property value.
4.3 All members supported to retain the barrier gate. Representative of hiking group expressed that though there was inconvenience in applying entry permit for coaches under the current quota system, regional transportation was nevertheless convenience, they support the protection of the natural environment of Sai Kung by minimizing vehicular and litter pollution. One member who lived in Sai Kung also opposed the opening of the gate as environmental protection should be taken as priority and not only on commercial and financial point of view. It was suggested to make use of public transport or shuttle bus service to transport visitors to promote tourism.
5. Cycling
5.1 One member enquired the possibility to organize cycling activity at Man Yee Road, Sai Kung.
The authority replied that discussion would be made with the Police and relevant organizations on suitable path for cycling competition.
5.2 One member welcomed the recently opened mountain cycling trail at Tai Lam forest tracks but expressed that the majority was concrete path and suggested to open more soil path. And, the path leading to Ho Pui was always congested with vehicles, affecting both cyclists and hikers. It was suggested to open the path leading from Tsuen Kam Au to Chuen Lung to divert traffic.
The authority replied that different needs of cyclists using the forest track (concrete path) had to be fulfilled. There was soil path along Tai Lam Reservoir. The authority would keep looking for suitable path for mountain cycling.
5.3 One member expressed concerns on the safety of both the mountain cyclists and hikers.
The authority appeal to both hikers and mountain cyclists to be patient and shared use of the path.
End of meeting
The meeting ended at 5pm.
April 2006
Country & Marine Parks Authority
Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department
|
