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Lantau North area will be designated as the 24th country park in Hong Kong following the approval of the draft map of Lantau North (Extension) Country Park by the Chief Executive in Council last month.
An Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) spokesman said today (July 2) that this new country park covered a total area of about 2,360 hectares to the north, northeast and east of the existing Lantau North Country Park.
"The majority of the country park is mountainous and upland valleys covered with natural woodland and unspoiled stream courses, which stretches from Tai Shan above Penny's Bay in the east, to Tai Ho, Tung Chung and Sham Wat in the west. The area has high conservation and landscape value."
"Lantau North (Extension) Country Park is a major conservation proposal in the Revised Concept Plan for Lantau. After the designation of the 24th country park in Hong Kong, the total country park area will increase to about 44,000 hectares covering about 40% of Hong Kong's total land area," the spokesman said.
AFCD will improve and upgrade footpaths to facilitate hiking and leisure walking activities. Facilities such as shelters, tables and benches, information boards and view compasses will also be provided for visitors.
The designation order of Lantau North (Extension) Country Park will be published in the Gazette on Friday (July 4).
Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:01
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