Press Releases

Exhibition to kick off World Wetlands Day activities
Friday, February 2, 2001

A wetland roving exhibition is launched at Tin Shing Court Shopping Centre in Tin Shui Wai to kick off a series of activities to celebrate the World Wetlands Day today (February 2).

The exhibition features the need to conserve wetlands, the role of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Reserve Network, and various species of birds found in Hong Kong wetlands. A critically endangered bird, Black-faced Spoonbill, is one of the highlights in the event.

Senior Wetland Park Officer of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) Mr So Ping-man said, "Wetlands are cradles of biological diversity and provide the water and primary productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend on for survival.

"Moreover, wetlands bring economic benefits in the form of fish and gei wai shrimp farming, recreation and tourism opportunities. They also play a significant role in water purification, shoreline stabilisation and flood mitigation."

Other topics introduced at the exhibition are the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong's work in managing the Mai Po wetlands, the Conservancy Association's Ramsar Wetland Conservation Programme, and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society's waterfowl monitoring programme.

Visitors may take part in a rod game on bird migration and a computer question-and-answer game on wetlands. They are also welcome to take a picture with some Black-faced Spoonbill models at the photo corner.

The exhibition is organised by AFCD at Tin Shing Court from February 2 to 4, and will be held at Kai Tin Shopping Centre in Lam Tin from February 10 to 11, Sheung Tak Shopping Centre in Tseung Kwan O from February 17 to 18, and Chung On Shopping Centre in Ma On Shan from February 24 to 25.

Other activities to be held to mark the World Wetlands Day are a bird watching training course and Bird Watching Race co-organised by AFCD and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society; Wetland Photo Contest and Wetland Drawing Competition co-organised with the Tai Po Environmental Association; Clear Mikania Action co-organised with the Conservancy Association; and "Discover Deep Bay Wetland" co-organised with the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong.