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The Hong Kong National Geopark offers visitors an enriching and refreshing experience with the introduction of geopark gourmet dishes.
A major part of the geopark initiative is to connect geology and nature conservation with sustainable socio-economic development and management. It also emphasises the importance of local participation through educational programmes and employment opportunities. In this connection, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Sai Kung District Council and Sai Kung restaurant groups have been working together to create a variety of gourmet dishes inspired by geological concepts such as volcanicity and superposition.
About 40 guests sampled the dishes including "volcanic lava lao sha pau" (custard bun) and "golden hexagonal columns" (deep-fried shrimp rolls) at a lunch held in Sai Kung today (July 16).
Speaking at the lunch, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, thanked the Sai Kung community for their enthusiastic support for the development of Hong Kong's geopark.
"A geopark will not have a soul if local communities are not involved. Empowering them will increase their sense of ownership to conserve the resources while revitalising the local economy," Mr Yau said.
Currently, the Sai Kung Geoheritage Information Centre provides various guided tours for visitors. Set up by the Sai Kung District Council and Sai Kung District Community Centre in March 2010, the centre aims to introduce the geological resources in Sai Kung and also promote public awareness of geoconservation.
Also joining the event today were the Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, Miss Joey Lam; Chairman of Sai Kung District Council, Mr Ng Sze-fuk; Chairman of the Sai Kung Food and Beverage Association, Mr Hiew Chin; and members of the Task Force of Hong Kong Geopark, Professor Jim Chi-yung and Professor Fung Tung.
Ends/Friday, July 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:41
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