Press Releases
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Proposed Tung Ping Chau Marine Park The Chief Executive in Council has given directions to the Country and Marine Parks Authority to prepare a draft map for Tung Ping Chau Marine Park. Speaking on the project today (May 5), a Government spokesman said the proposed fourth marine park, which would cover about 270 hectares of coastal and sea area around Tung Ping Chau, is of high conservation value. "The proposed park helps conserve the rich and diverse marine life in the area, protect breeding grounds for fish stocks and provide opportunities for scientific research. "The seabed of Tung Ping Chau embraces extensive coral formations and a rich growth of seaweed. "The fringing coral formation, measuring 1.8 square kilometres, is one of the largest in Hong Kong. It supports at least 124 species of reef fish," he said. Besides, the coastline of Tung Ping Chau, characterized by sedimentary rock formations and geological features, is also of high scientific and educational value, the spokesman added. The Country and Marine Parks Authority has started to consult relevant district councils, rural committees, fishermen organizations, village representatives, various green groups and other sectors on the proposed designation in the preparation of the draft map. So far, a majority of them have supported the proposed designation of the marine park. A notice on the draft map will be gazetted when it is ready. "Upon notification of the draft map in the Gazette, no new development will be carried out within the proposed marine park area without the approval of the Country and Marine Parks Authority," the spokesman said. The draft map will be made available for public inspection and objections raised will be carefully considered. Most of the land of Tung Ping Chau has been designated as country park since June 1979. The proposed Tung Ping Chau Marine Park is confined to the sea area below the high water mark. A study, commissioned by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on the ecological value of the area in 1998, confirmed that it was a suitable site for marine park. The Country and Marine Parks Board and the Marine Parks Committee were consulted on the proposed designation of Tung Ping Chau Marine Park and both supported the proposal. End |
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