Notes of 14^th Meeting

Date: 26 November 2005

Time: 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Rm 701, Cheung Sha Wan Government Office, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Hong Kong

 

Ms. Pammi CHAN                                  Mr. Cheung Tin-fook

Mr. Clarus CHU                                      Mr. FUNG Man-fai                 

Mr. Paul Hodgson                              Mr. KWOK Chi-Kwong

Mr. KWOK To                                          Ms. KWOK Wai-man

Ms. Nicola Newberry        

 

Dr. WONG Fook-yee                             Chairman

Mr. Edward WONG                                Marine Parks Division, AFCD

Mr. Alex KWOK                                       Marine Parks Division, AFCD

Ms. Janice LUN                                     Marine Parks Division, AFCD

Mr. Patrick LAU                                      Secretary

 

Mr.  N.J. BURNETT                              Hong Kong Police Force, Sai Kung

 

 

 

 

2.1           Mr Edward WONG reported that in response to the suggestion at the last MPVLG meeting, a list of approved scientific and education studies in the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park had been displayed on the notice board outside the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park Warden Post.

 

2.2           Mr Edward WONG reported that the department had sent a letter to Environment Protection Department (EPD) in mid-July to enquire about establishing a battery-recycling bin at the Hoi Ha Wan jetty. Reply from EPD indicated that their recycle scheme only cover rechargeable batteries and not for ordinary batteries. In view of this, the department would educate visitors to use the litter-bins provided for disposal of litter, including used ordinary batteries.

 

2.3           Mr Edward WONG reported that AFCD worked in collaboration with both Hong Kong Marine Police and the Mainland Fisheries Authority in stopping Mainland fishermen fishing in marine parks. A total of seventeen fishing vessels were seized in the joint exercises. All the fishing vessels and the fishermen were handed over to the Mainland Fisheries Authorities for follow up action. Mr. WONG also reported that a case happened a day before the meeting which included 8 Mainland fishermen conducting purse seining inside Yan Chau Tong Marine Park were arrested and prosecuted. All the fishermen were fined and subsequently repatriated to the Mainland.

 

 

 

3.1.1        Participants asked why that there had been no significant increase in facilities in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park as well as the legality to view coral using viewing chambers on sampans.

 

Response: Since most marine parks facilities were deployed in the sea area, they were less obvious to hikers and land-based visitors. The department is very careful in establishing land based facilities at Hoi Ha Wan as to reduce the possible impact upon residents of Hoi Ha. 

 

Viewing of coral onboard sampan using a viewing chamber is not illegal. This activity also does not have any significant impact on coral provided that the sampan has shallow draft. The department would, however, continue to monitor the impact of these activities on coral within Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park.

 

3.1.2        Participants enquired about the educational activities provided by the department and whether there were plans on collaborative educational activities between WWFHK and AFCD when the Marine Life Centre became fully functional.

 

Response: The launching of the Marine Parks Ambassador Programme was a scheme to involve volunteers from secondary schools and universities to help promote the marine park visitor code as well as general marine conservation messages. The educational activities of WWFHK and AFCD would be well adjusted to complement each other in future to avoid any duplication of work and to provide better services to the public.

 

3.2.1        Mr. Edward Wong informed the meeting that some cargo vessels were found using Tung Ping Chau Marine Park (TPCMP) for smuggling activities. These cargo vessels had caused damages to the corals because of grounding and spillage of oil. The department planned to prohibit the entrance of these cargo vessels to the TPCMP and would like to seek participants’ comments. Participants expressed support to the proposal.

 

 

3.3.1        In response to participants’ queries, the Authority has the following responses:

a             That members of the public could either dial “999” (Police emergency) or “1823” (Government hotline) to report illegal activities in marine parks. 

b            The AFCD would consider implementing educational activities on fishing practices, fishermen living style, as well as the threat currently encountered by the fishermen.

 

 

 

3.4.1        Participants worried that the proposal to remove the Pak Tam Chung Barrier Gate would bring additional traffic to the area, thus causing traffic congestion within the park area.

 

Response:  This issue was discussed at the last Country Parks Visitor Liaison Group Meeting which included participants from hiking groups and other nature lovers. All participants unanimously objected to the opening of the barrier gate. The department also arranged an inter-departmental meeting on this issue. Most departments expressed concern on the possible impacts of opening the barrier gate on the traffic and the natural environment.   Furthermore, AFCD had no funding to construct a coach park at Hoi Ha. The Transport Department would consider to develop pedestrian path along Hoi Ha Road and Pak Tam Road. The Chairman reiterated that AFCD had no plan to open up the barrier gate. 

 

 

3.4.2        A participant raised the parking problem at Hoi Ha Wan and claimed that there was no safe drop-off point at Hoi Ha. The participant was of the view that the coaches could return to Pak Tam Chung Coach Park after unloading people at Hoi Ha and pick them up later. Signs indicating loading and unloading area at Hoi Ha should be erected.

 

Response: This issue was raised at the last CPVLG meeting. Both the Country Parks Wardens and Police officers would patrol along Hoi Ha Road and would ask the drivers not to park along the road for too long. However, the problem was that the coaches need a place to park when loading or receiving people, and also some coaches had to stay and wait for picking up their visitors. The Police representatives did not agree to the idea of coaches returning to Pak Tam Chung as this may double the traffic on the road. The police representative also stressed that the coach parking problem could not be easily solved. However, a site near the pumping station along Hoi Ha Road could be used for short term parking of coaches.

 

 

3.4.3        A participant expressed that a lot of destructive fishing practises was found being carried out by mainland fishermen at the out lying islands in Hong Kong such as Tap Mun, Port Island and Kai Kung Tau of Kat O. The participant said that he knew some local fishermen use destructive fishing practise inside marine parks.

 

Response: AFCD staff would enforce the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) to stop destructive fishing activities both inside and outside marine parks. Regarding local fishermen using the destructive fishing practises inside marine parks, Mr. Edward WONG said that the case was under investigation. The Chairman also urged the participants to provide AFCD more information if they knew any local or Mainland fishermen conducting destructive fishing practises in Hong Kong.

 

 

3.4.4        A participant asked whether the recent re-organization with respect to conservation functions of AFCD would include the Commissioner for Tourism as Tourism Commissioner only encourage visitors to visit country and marine parks without duly consider the consequences on the conservation and protection of natural resources would be unsustainable. The participant asked whether it was possible for AFCD to actively communicate with the on this issue.

 

Response: The coming re-organization exercise did not involve Tourism Commissioner. A participant explained that the Tourism Commission must follow the guideline of World Tourism Organization to include the element of conservation on natural resource when developing tourism in Hong KongongHong KonHong . AFCD often meet Tourism Commissioner on specific projects. Staff of AFCD also involved in the Northern New Territories Tourism Development Strategy and provided input from country and marine parks point of view.

 

3.4.5        Finally, the Chairman thanked all participants’ comments and suggestions and invited them to join the Sai Kung Hiking Festival on 3 and 4 December 2005.

 

3.4.6        There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.