LCQ 20: Investigation into sawning down of trees in Tai Lam
Country Park
************************************************************ Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 26):
Question:
On 13 July this year, 188 large trees in Tai Lam Country Park were found to have been sawn down. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the latest progress of the Police's investigation into the incident;
(b) of the number of staff members now deployed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to patrol various country parks; together with a list of the average area patrolled by each staff member in each country park; and
(c) whether it has stepped up patrols in country parks after the incident; if it has, of the details and whether this measure will be a long-term practice; if it has not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The case is still under investigation. The Police has appealed to the public through the television programme "Police Report" to provide information on the case and made enquiries with hikers and villagers in that area. No arrest has been made so far.
(b) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) manages 23 country parks, which cover a total area of about 41,000 hectares. There are about 120 park wardens responsible for patrolling the country parks. Since they are deployed based on service needs and not stationed in a designated country park, we are unable to provide the breakdown of the average area patrolled by each park warden in each country park. In addition to AFCD's park wardens, the Police would patrol the country parks for detection and prevention of crime. The Civil Aid Service also patrols the country parks and hiking trails to provide assistance to the public.
There are another 650 frontline staff of AFCD involved in the daily management and maintenance of the country parks. They also assist in monitoring activities in the country parks and will report inappropriate activities to the relevant authorities for follow up action.
(c) After the incident, AFCD has increased the frequency of morning and night patrols and tightened ingress control at the barrier gates of the Tai Lam Country Park. AFCD has also shared information about the incident with the local people and village representatives. AFCD will continue to adjust the frequency of patrols in different areas of the country parks according to the prevailing situation, remind all their frontline staff to exercise constant vigilance against any inappropriate activities and maintain close liaison with the Police to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.
Country Park
************************************************************ Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 26):
Question:
On 13 July this year, 188 large trees in Tai Lam Country Park were found to have been sawn down. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the latest progress of the Police's investigation into the incident;
(b) of the number of staff members now deployed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to patrol various country parks; together with a list of the average area patrolled by each staff member in each country park; and
(c) whether it has stepped up patrols in country parks after the incident; if it has, of the details and whether this measure will be a long-term practice; if it has not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The case is still under investigation. The Police has appealed to the public through the television programme "Police Report" to provide information on the case and made enquiries with hikers and villagers in that area. No arrest has been made so far.
(b) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) manages 23 country parks, which cover a total area of about 41,000 hectares. There are about 120 park wardens responsible for patrolling the country parks. Since they are deployed based on service needs and not stationed in a designated country park, we are unable to provide the breakdown of the average area patrolled by each park warden in each country park. In addition to AFCD's park wardens, the Police would patrol the country parks for detection and prevention of crime. The Civil Aid Service also patrols the country parks and hiking trails to provide assistance to the public.
There are another 650 frontline staff of AFCD involved in the daily management and maintenance of the country parks. They also assist in monitoring activities in the country parks and will report inappropriate activities to the relevant authorities for follow up action.
(c) After the incident, AFCD has increased the frequency of morning and night patrols and tightened ingress control at the barrier gates of the Tai Lam Country Park. AFCD has also shared information about the incident with the local people and village representatives. AFCD will continue to adjust the frequency of patrols in different areas of the country parks according to the prevailing situation, remind all their frontline staff to exercise constant vigilance against any inappropriate activities and maintain close liaison with the Police to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 13:59
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