For the purpose of designating the Brothers Marine Park, a designation order under the Marine Parks Ordinance was gazetted today (November 4).

     A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that in compliance with the Environmental Permit conditions set out for the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Project related to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, a new marine park in the vicinity of the Brothers shall be designated.
 
     The draft map for the Brothers Marine Park was made available for public inspection for a period of 60 days from February 12 to April 11. The Country and Marine Parks Authority has not received any objection against the draft map during the period.
 
     The certified true copies of the approved map of the Brothers Marine Park were deposited in the Land Registry, the headquarters of the Marine Department and the headquarters of the AFCD on September 23.
 
     The spokesman said, "Covering an area of about 970 hectares, the Brothers Marine Park is an important Chinese white dolphin habitat.
 
     "Activities in the waters concerned will be regulated by the Marine Parks Ordinance and the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation after the designation. It will be conducive to the conservation of Chinese white dolphins in the long run by enhancing fisheries resources and providing an improved habitat for marine lives."
 
     The designation order in respect of the approved map of the Brothers Marine Park will be tabled at the Legislative Council on November 9 for negative vetting, with commencement of order on December 30.

Ends/Friday, November 4, 2016
Issued at HKT 9:00

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