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Following is a question by Dr Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (October 29):
Question:
Hong Kong Geopark was added to the Global Geoparks Network in 2011 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and was then named Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (the Geopark). It has been reported that the Geopark will undergo an interim assessment for the first time next year and the assessment criteria include the three aspects of conservation, publicity and education as well as tourism. Yet, relevant information indicates that the number of visitors to the Geopark has decreased from 1.5 million in 2011-2012 to 1.4 million in 2012-2013. There have been comments that if the situation does not improve, the Geopark may lose its world-class status. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that the number of overseas tourists joining guided tours to the Geopark currently accounts for only 1% to 2% of the total number of tourists to Hong Kong, whether it knows if the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will consider enhancing its efforts in promoting the Geopark to overseas tourists, such as classifying the Geopark as a "highlight attraction" on the web site of HKTB, or strengthening publicity work at the Hong Kong International Airport and various immigration control points; if HKTB will consider doing so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) as it has been reported that some tourist guides aspiring to become Geopark guides have abandoned their plans to enrol in the relevant approved courses due to worries about underemployment, whether the authorities will provide funding to subsidise the training of Geopark guides so as to enhance their professional standard; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether the authorities will provide funding to improve the ancillary facilities in the vicinity of the Geopark (such as upgrading the pier near the Geopark and expediting the works to widen the Hiram's Highway, etc.), so as to attract more people to visit the Geopark; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Geopark is a natural scenic area with special geological heritage and landscapes, and it may also include precious archaeological finds, and important ecological, historical and cultural resources. According to the requirement of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) which is supported by the UNESCO, a geopark which is accepted to its network should have not only special geological features and landforms, but should also bring economic benefits to the local community through the promotion of sustainable geo-tourism. GGN emphasises the sustainability of development projects within the geopark. The reply to the question raised by Dr Hon Elizabeth Quat on the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (the Geopark) is as follows:
(1) The Geopark is one of the Government's major focuses of promotion for green tourism. In promoting the Geopark, we also take into account the importance of conservation. The Tourism Commission (TC) is partnering with relevant Government departments (including the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) which is responsible for managing the Geopark), the travel trade, other event organisers and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to promote the Geopark and other green attractions of Hong Kong to overseas nature lovers and the overseas travel trade through the HKTB's "Great Outdoors Hong Kong" marketing platform. The promotion work of the HKTB for the Geopark includes the following:
* To encourage free and independent visitors to explore the Geopark through guide books, HKTB's official website, visitor centres and at the major ports of entry and visitor hotline;
* To introduce the Geopark to overseas trade partners during travel fairs and promotion activities and encourage them to include elements of green tourism in the itineraries of visitors;
* To arrange overseas trade partners specialising in green tourism products to visit the Geopark and encourage them to include the Geopark in the itineraries for their customers; and
* To arrange international media and celebrities to explore the natural landscape in the Geopark and to promote the Geopark to overseas consumers through media coverage and social media.
Meanwhile, the TC, in collaboration with the travel trade and relevant departments, has implemented a scheme since June 2012 to allow coaches to transport inbound visitors to the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir on a limited scale to further facilitate visitors to go to the Geopark, with a view to promoting nature-based tourists' activities. There is no common mandatory requirement on the number of visitors. The number of visitors was high in the early days of the establishment of the Geopark and the number of visitors remains stable in the recent years.
(2) To enhance the travel trade's understanding of eco-tourism and nature appreciation, the Employee Retraining Board (ERB) launched a series of "Eco-Tour" courses under the "Skills Upgrading Scheme Plus" starting from 2013-14 for enrolment of eligible persons (ERB's service targets are persons aged 15 or above with education attainment at sub-degree level or below). The series include courses specifically designed under the themes of the geo-areas in the Geopark. In 2014-15, the ERB reserved 360 training quotas for the "Eco-Tour" courses, including 140 quotas for Geopark-related courses.
In order to maintain the quality of geopark guides and geo-tours, the Geopark and the Association for Geoconservation, Hong Kong, have jointly established the "Recommended Geopark Guide (R2Gs) System". The R2G system encourages serving guides to enhance their knowledge on geology, culture and history and skills to be in line with international standards. To become eligible to the system, participants are required to pass the assessment in the aspects of education level, experience, conservation ideas, knowledge, language skills, professional ethics, crisis consciousness and handling, skill, physique, and personality. The assessment system and its goal have been affirmed by the GGN.
In addition, to maintain the standard of geopark guides, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong has established a "Geopark Guide Accreditation System" to accreditate the qualifications for "Accredited Geopark Guides".
Through the arrangement of free local courses, seminars, field trips and other forms of continuing training, as well as arrangement of visits to geoparks in the Mainland, the AFCD endeavors to improve the standard of Hong Kong Geopark Guides.
(3) The purpose of establishing the Geopark is to provide a place for high-quality outdoor education for promotion of geoconservation, rather than simply to attract visitors. Therefore, the AFCD will keep a careful balance between the needs of the visitors and protection of natural landscape. The AFCD set up interpretative panels, visitor centres and other appropriate tourist facilities in the Geopark to providing information to the public and tourists. Meanwhile, the Department has deigned two boat tour routes and nine land tour routes to enhance geopark tourism activities. To further promote the Geopark, in July 2014 the AFCD established a Volcano Discovery Centre (the Centre) at the Sai Kung Town, which is the gateway of visiting Hong Kong Geopark. The Centre introduces the volcano in over hundred million years in Hong Kong and its landscape formation.
Further, the North District Council decided earlier to spend part of the funds under the Signature Project Scheme to improve hiking trails and construct new ancillary facilities in the Sha Tau Kok area. The aforementioned North District Signature Project (the Project) falls within the Sedimentary Rock Region of the Geopark and is in the vicinity of the Yan Chau Tong Marine Park. The Project comprises, amongst other items, improvement of existing hiking trails, construction of a new geo-path in the southern part of Kat O, conversion of the premises of an old rural school into a geological-cum-ecological education centre, as well as installation of ecology-themed education panels. The Project is expected to attract more visitors to the Geopark, encourage ecotourism and promote the message of conservation; it will also stand the Geopark in good stead when the revalidation of its status as recognised by the GGN under UNESCO is due. The detailed design of the Project is in progress. It is expected that the Project will be submitted to the Finance Committee of this Council for consideration in mid-2015. Subject to the Committee's approval, the construction works of the Project is expected to commence in late 2015 for completion in late 2017.
The AFCD also promotes the Geopark through different platforms including website, school activities, publications, public lectures, exhibitions and international conferences to attract visitors.
Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:43
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