Press Releases
|
Hale and hearty into the next century The Agriculture and Fisheries Department today (Wednesday) welcomes the public to participate in an extensive hiking campaign for a close contact with Hong Kong's remarkable countryside. The Hiking Festival 2000, which included trail walks and guided eco-tours, will last for about two months from November 20, 1999 to January 23, 2000. Speaking on the campaign, Country Parks Ranger Services Officer, Miss Josephine Yang Ka-yee, said: "Hiking is an environmental-friendly, healthy, pleasurable yet challenging outdoor activity. "It goes with calls for a healthy living and constitutes one of the best recreations in fall and winter times." "Through participation in the hiking festival, we can better understand and appreciate our unique and enchanting countryside," she added. A major highlight of the festival is the Millennium Walks. It comprises a total of 10 hiking excursions to be held in 10 consecutive weekends starting November 20 and lead all the way to the new millennium. "The hiking routes chosen for the campaign, ranging from strenuous walks to challenging paths, suit hiking by most adults, including occasional as well as regular hikers. "The department also set up a number of 'Guided Easy Walks' in seven of the ten excursions for family based participants. Each can be completed in just about three hours," Miss Yang said. Participants who finish a whole trail successfully will be given a specially designed badge as souvenir. There are ten different badges for the ten excursions. Miss Yang said a hiking passport "Footprints" would be issued for hikers and their hiking mileages accumulated would be recognised internationally. Advanced application for participation is required. Detailed information and application forms are available for collection at the department's headquarter on 14th Floor, Canton Road Government Offices as well as all visitor centres at country parks in Aberdeen, Tai Mo Shan, Sai Kung, Plover Cove, Shing Mun and the Lions Nature Education Centre. Public may also download the application form from the department's website (http://www.afdparks.gov.hk) or obtain a copy via the fax-on-demand hotlines at 2736 3579 (English)/ 2485 3250 (Chinese). However, interested hikers have to submit the application form in person to the department and acquire an immediate issue of the hiking passport "Footprint". The department's headquarters will accept application during office hours from November 3 to 14 (except Sundays and public holidays). All visitor centres open daily (except Tuesdays) and will collect application starting November 3, 1999 to January 10, 2000. The passport holders can participate in all excursions and make a full collection of all ten badges. AFD has prepared a total of 10,000 hiking passports for potential participants. "Those who wish to partake in one or just a few hiking excursions may also apply. "Application will be closed a week before the holding of each excursion," Miss Yang said. A series of guided eco-tours will be arranged by the Hong Kong Walking Alliance every Sundays starting November 21 at a cost of $20 each. "Experienced hiking tour leaders will introduce to participants different features of our local natural settings, including the special flora and fauna, coastal ecology as well as the natural landscape and scenic beauty of our countryside," she added. Advanced telephone booking via the department's Ranger Head Office at 2422 9431 is required and admission is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Miss Yang called for public support to this enjoyable yet environmental-friendly way to celebrate the new millennium. "Let's make each of us hale and hearty to greet the coming of the new century," she said. |
||
 |
||
|
||
|
