*******************
Following is a question by the Hon Wu Chi-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 13):
Question:
In a document submitted to the Panel on Environmental Affairs of this Council in May 2002, the Government advised that after obtaining the direction of the Chief Executive in Council, the Country and Marine Parks Authority (the Authority) (i.e. the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation) had prepared draft maps of the proposed Southwest Lantau Marine Park and Soko Islands Marine Park (the proposed marine parks) under the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476) (the Ordinance), and had drawn up the preliminary boundaries of the proposed marine parks. The document also mentioned that the Authority planned to finalise the draft maps and gazette the notice in August or September of the same year, and the proposed marine parks were expected to be designated in early 2003. However, the proposed marine parks have not yet been designated so far. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) as the Chief Executive in Council had given consent for the Authority to prepare maps and draw up boundaries for the proposed marine parks under the Ordinance, why the Government subsequently halted the statutory procedures for designating the marine parks;
(b) whether the Government had consulted the Country and Marine Parks Board and the public before it halted the statutory procedures for designating the proposed marine parks; if it had, of the details of the consultation; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether it has plans to resume the statutory procedures for designating the proposed marine parks in the coming 24 months; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In the past few years, the Environment Bureau and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department had put main work focus on the designation of the Lantau North (Extension) Country Park, the establishment of the Hong Kong National Geopark, and the application for the Geopark to become a member of the Global Geoparks Network as supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. In 2009, we consulted the relevant fishermen organisations, the Tai O Rural Committee and the South Lantao Rural Committee again on the proposed Southwest Lantau Marine Park and Soko Islands Marine Park. They had reservations over the management measures to be implemented for the marine parks (such as vessel speed restrictions) and were worried that the designation of new marine parks would further reduce the fishing grounds. Therefore, they objected to the designation. We have to consider the stakeholders' views carefully before taking forward the plan of designating the proposed marine parks. As such, we will continue to communicate with the stakeholders. At the present stage, the Government will carry out preliminary preparatory work and will continue to conserve and monitor the population of Chinese White Dolphins in the waters around Fan Lau and Soko Islands through the existing Conservation Programme for Chinese White Dolphins.
As regards the proposed Southwest Lantau Marine Park and Soko Islands Marine Park, we have on a number of occasions (in January 2005, January 2007, March 2008 and July 2009 respectively) briefed the Country and Marine Parks Board and its Marine Parks Committee on the progress and implementation considerations. We reiterated during the meetings that we had not shelved the plan to designate the proposed marine parks, and stated that the overall development plan of Lantau and relevant resource allocation issues would be taken into consideration to further set out the implementation timetable. We will continue our efforts to gain support from the stakeholders, and will report the implementation progress to the relevant Board/Committee.
Ends/Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:10
NNNN