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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
Four Legislative Council (LegCo) Members, jointly with representatives of the Administration and members of the North District Council (DC members), conducted a site visit to the Sha Tau Kok Frontier Closed Area (FCA) this morning (March 24) to better understand the suggestions raised by DC members to further open up the Sha Tau Kok FCA (including Sha Tau Kok Town and Sha Tau Kok public pier) to facilitate local residents' free access to the area, help promote green tourism and local economic development as well as release more land to alleviate the shortage of housing land in Hong Kong.
Members first visited Sha Tau Kok public pier and the Tin Hau Temple nearby. They were briefed that Kat O and Ap Chau, which were islands near Sha Tau Kok FCA, were popular eco-tourism spots.
On their way to Chung Ying Street, Members passed by some tenement buildings along San Lau Street in Sha Tau Kok Town which were accorded Grade 2 historic buildings by the Antiquities Advisory Board. At Chung Ying Street, Members talked to a few shop operators to gain an understanding of the local economic activities. They also observed the boundary stones which had been erected in the middle of the street since the 1890s.
The site visit concluded at Kwan Ah School, which had ceased operation since 2004, in Tam Shui Hang. Members noted DC members' views that further opening up of the Sha Tau Kok FCA would not only help promote the development of green tourism, but would also be conducive to local economic development, hence providing more job opportunities for local residents to improve their living.
Members participating in the site visit included Dr Lam Tai-fai (Convenor), Ms Emily Lau, Mr Chan Hak-kan and Miss Chan Yuen-han.
Ends/Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:28
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