The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, continued his visit to Wolong, Sichuan, today (August 15) where he visited Zumushan, the Museum of Nature and Earthquake in Wolong, the Dengsheng conservation station and Wolong Old Street together with the participants of the Youth Internship Programme at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan. They also prepared beehives in Wolong town.
 
     Accompanied by the former Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Hong Kong, Professor Lam Kin-che, and the former Convenor of the Steering Committee's Marine Biodiversity Working Group, Professor Nora Tam, Mr Wong in the morning visited Zumushan, the habitat for various kinds of birds. They were briefed by programme interns on avian ecology.

     He then departed for the Museum of Nature and Earthquake in Wolong where he received a briefing from programme interns who engaged in multi-media on filming of ecological conservation, sketching of giant pandas and their experience on natural ecology. Interns working as museum guides introduced the Wolong National Nature Reserve and gave a presentation on their internship duties. During the visit, Mr Wong learned about the promotion of natural ecological education at the museum and spoke with the interns.
 
     In the afternoon, Mr Wong, together with the two professors and interns, called at the Dengsheng conservation station, where they were briefed by station staff and interns on the installation of infrared cameras in the field for observing biological species and recording the progress and results of related outdoor research work. 
 
     Afterwards, they headed to Wolong Old Street, a place where indigenous Tibetans and ethnic Qiang live. There, they were briefed by programme interns on the balance between local livelihoods and natural ecology. They then prepared beehives, which serves a role in the promotion of eco-tourism, in Wolong town.
 
     Professor Tam hosted a sharing session for interns on the marine ecology and conservation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the evening. She introduced information on the resource management and development of the coastal area, and discussed the work and effectiveness of marine ecology and conservation in the region.
 
     Mr Wong will officiate at the closing ceremony of the Youth Internship Programme at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan tomorrow morning (August 16). Following that, he will conclude his visit and return to Hong Kong on the same day.

Ends/Thursday, August 15, 2019
Issued at HKT 20:15

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