Long Valley Nature Park Opens: A New Hub for Conservation and Eco-Friendly Farming

2024-11-09 16:30 Last Updated At：16:38

Opening ceremony of Long Valley Nature Park held today

The Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP), designed and constructed by the Civil Engineering and Development Department and managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, was officially opened today (November 9) for public visits.

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Opening ceremony of Long Valley Nature Park held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Opening ceremony of Long Valley Nature Park held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The LVNP integrates wetland conservation, eco-friendly farming, and nature education. Covering an area of approximately 37 hectares, the LVNP adopts an open design divided into three management zones, namely the Biodiversity Zone for core conservation, the Agriculture Zone for eco-friendly farming, and the Visitor Zone equipped with facilities for visitors and educational activities.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs, Mr Lau Kwok-fan; the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong; and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Tse stated that the establishment of the LVNP for active conservation of Long Valley by the Government represents a breakthrough. By proactively restoring abandoned farmlands and some dry farmlands into various wetland habitats, including wet farmlands, a water flea pond, shallow ponds and marshes, as well as constructing irrigation channels to nurture various wildlife and facilitate eco-friendly farming practices, the LVNP not only better conserves Long Valley but also achieves the complementary objectives of ecological conservation and agriculture. Since construction began in 2019, the LVNP has achieved encouraging conservation results. Over the past three years, the numbers of critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola), nests of Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), and endangered Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) have all increased severalfold.

Ms Linn said in her speech that there are urban development as well as important culture and ecological environments in the Northern Metropolis. The LVNP possesses high ecological value and has effectively enhanced the wetland habitats. The necessary supporting infrastructure and visitor facilities have also been built, demonstrating the Government's commitment to feature "Urban-Rural Integration and Co-existence of Development and Conservation" in the development of the Northern Metropolis.

The Opening Fun Day will be held at the LVNP today and tomorrow, featuring in-depth tours, a farmers' market, game booths, art and crafts workshops, and music performances. Free shuttle bus services between Fanling MTR Station and the LVNP will be provided. Admission is free, and the public is welcome to join. For details, please visit the LVNP's website (www.lvnp.gov.hk).

HAD Clarifies District Council Members' Attendance Rates Amid Media Reports

2025-01-02 23:13 Last Updated At：23:28

Meeting attendance of members of District Councils in 2024

The Home Affairs Department (HAD) made the following clarifications today (January 2) regarding certain media reports on the meeting attendance of the current-term members of the District Councils (DCs) in 2024:

(1) The current-term DC members were diligent in their work, with over 98 per cent of 470 members having attended all DC meetings or were only absent with the DC's consent; over 90 per cent having attended all committee/working group meetings or were only absent with the DC's consent. Aside from attending DC meetings, each DC member on average attended 28 committee/working group meetings;

(2) all DC members fulfilled the requirement under the Performance Monitoring Guidelines for Members of the DCs (the Guidelines), i.e. attendance rate of not lower than 80 per cent and no DC members were in violation of the requirement; certain reports were incorrect in stating that some DC members were in violation of the Guidelines due to their absence at meetings since absence at an individual meeting was not a violation in itself; and

(3) for the purpose of calculating attendance, the Guidelines stipulate certain reasons for absence that would be consented by the DCs, including sickness and attendance at another meeting or an activity on behalf of the DCs etc. If a DC member were absent from meetings due to the aforementioned reasons with the DC's consent, the absence would not affect his/her attendance rate. If a DC member were absent from meetings due to other reasons (i.e. personal matters), the absence would be counted towards his/her attendance rate.

The HAD hoped that media outlets and members of the public would have an accurate understanding of DC members' attendance situation at meetings. The current-term DC members' attendance rate at meetings was the highest amongst all previous terms, which fully demonstrated DC members' efforts and work in improving governance at the district level.

Long Valley Nature Park Opens: A New Hub for Conservation and Eco-Friendly Farming

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