Thursday, October 9, 2008

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department , formerly Agriculture and Fisheries Department before 2000, of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for agriculture and fisheries in Hong Kong, conservation projects and issues, and managing the . It reports to the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food and Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works .

The department is headed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation.

Plans have been revealed to restructure this department together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department . The department will take up the environmental hygiene responsibility form the FEHD, and will be renamed Agriculture, Fisheries, Environmental Hygiene and Conservation Department.

Aberdeen Country Park

Aberdeen Country Park is located on the south end of Hong Kong Island in the area called Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Much of the south side of the island is underdeveloped and retains more of the rural feel that predominated on the island before it was settled by the .

The 4.23 square kilometre country park opened in 1931. Designated in 1977, it is one of the oldest country parks in Hong Kong.

Tai Tam Country Park

Tai Tam Country Park is a country park in the Tai Tam area in the south end of Hong Kong Island. The park was also expanded with the addition of the Tai Tam Country Park . At 1315 hectares, the park consists of one fifth of Hong Kong Island's land mass.

The park was designated in 1977 with attractions like:

*Jardine's Lookout
*Tai Tam Upper Reservoir
*Tai Tam Byewash Reservoir
*Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir
*Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir
*Tai Tam Forts

Tai Tam Country Park (Quarry Bay extension)

Tai Tam Country Park is the eastern part of the park system in Hong Kong Island called Tai Tam Country Park. This 270 hectare section of the park is located near Quarry Bay opened in 1979.

Sites include:

* , the second highest peak on Hong Kong Island
* Mount Butler
* Quarry Bay

Tai Po Kau Special Area

Tai Po Kau Special Area is a wilderness preserve in Tai Po area of the New Territories in northern Hong Kong.

Tai Mo Shan

Tai Mo Shan has the highest in Hong Kong, with an altitude of 958 m. It is located approximately at the geographical centre of the New Territories.

The second highest elevation of the territory is Lantau Peak , 934 m, on Lantau Island.
The area surrounding Tai Mo Shan is a country park, which covers an area of 14.40 km? and adopts the same name - Tai Mo Shan Country Park. It is located to the north of Tai Lam Country Park and, separated by Shek Kong Valley is the Lam Tsuen Country Park with an area of 15.20 km?.

Geology


Tai Mo Shan is made up of volcanic rocks of Jurassic age. The volcanic rocks are mainly coarse ash crystal tuff. To the northwest, the west and the south of the peak, the valleys contain large deposits of colluvium. The upper slopes are distinctly "ribbed", as is especially evident after a hill fire. These are stone terraces, running obliquely downhill to the valleys. It is also claimed to be Hong Kongs most misty area due to it being covered in clouds almost daily.

It is rather easy to hike to the peak as there is a road all the way at a comfortable gradient. One cannot actually reach the highest point on Tai Mo Shan as there is a fenced-off satellite compound situated there; entry is prohibited, as is taking photos or making sketches.

Vegetation



There are forest plantations in the southeastern part of the park. Limited by climatic and geographic factors, these plantations end at the 550 metre contour, above which shrubs and grasses dominate.

In the past, Tai Mo Shan was famous for a type of green tea, called ''mist'' or ''cloud'' tea, which grew wild up on the mountain side. Occasionally, local people can still be seen picking the tea shoots for brewing green tea.

''Camellia sinensis var. waldenae'' are found on the mountain.

Wildlife



Some montane birds and rare species of snakes and butterflies breed here. There are also freshwater crabs, feral dogs, feral cats, oxen, and wild boar.

Places of interest


A series of barbecue and picnic sites are provided along Route Twisk, the Shek Kong - Pat Heung catchwater and the Tuen Mun catchwater.

The Rotary Park at Tai Mo Shan which has a car-park and extensive picnic facilities, is especially popular. Tourist groups often come here for a brief stop to enjoy the panoramic view. On a clear day even Lantau and its adjacent islands can be seen. Tai Mo Shan Visitor Centre is located not far away from the carpark, along Tai Mo Shan Road, which leads to the weather station on the top of the mountain.

To learn the techniques of hiking, you may visit the Hiking Practice Trail adjacent to the Tai Mo Shan car Park. Those would prefer short walks may visit the family walks in the park.

The Country Code



Visitors in country parks are asked to help keep the parks clean and prevent hill fires so that the facilities can be enjoyed by all. In 1986, a 34 hour blaze destroyed 282,500 trees at Shing Mun and Tai Mo Shan and ravaged 7.40 km? of countryside. Fire is the greatest threat to the beauty of the country parks.

Transportation



To Route Twisk of the entrance of Tai Mo Shan Country Park: Kowloon Motor Bus route operating between Tsuen Wan Nina Tower I and Kam Tin. The bus also stops at .

External links and references


* Initial text based on information provided by the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department , under the provision that the re-dissemination or reproduction is for non-commercial use.
* http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_cou/cou_vis_cou.html

Tai Lam Country Park

Tai Lam Country Park , established on 23 February 1979, is a country park located in the Tai Lam, at the south of Yuen Long and east of Tuen Mun, in the western New Territories of Hong Kong. This has an area of 54 km?.

Highlights


A series of barbecue and picnic sites are provided along Route Twisk, the Sek Kong, Pat Heung catchwater and the Tuen Mun catchwater. In addition, there are a lot of trails. For example, the MacLehose Trail, The Kap Lung Forest Trail starts from the top of Route Twisk near the Country Park Management Centre. The Twisk Nature Trail near the Country Park Management Centre introduces the natural environment and human impacts in the area.

The fitness trail at So Kwun Wat catchwater provides 14 sets of fitness equipment for visitors and morning walkers.

Transportation


* To Route Twisk at Tai Lam Country Park - Kowloon Motor Bus No. 51
* To Tai Tong at Tai Lam Country Park - K66 feeder bus . The terminus is at Tai Tong.
* To Ho Pui at Tai Lam Country Park - GMB No. 71 .
* To Tuen Mun at Tai Lam Country Park - start the walk at Tuen Mun Hoh Fuk Tong (614 or 614P at
* To Sham Tseng : start the walk at Tsing Lung Tau.
* K51 - The bus Terminus is at Tai Lam, which is the south of the country park. The route passes through and