【Interview with expert at Rocks Net – Yeung Ka Ming】
Seeking partners—the way of establishing geopark in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is preparing for the applying to have the geologically unique places in the east approved as a national geopark, which is significant for the conservation of Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Geopark plan was proposed by UNESCO in 1999, and implemented in 2004. Geopark is officially defined as "an area comprising one or more places with scientific significance and having archaeological, ecological and cultural values as well as geological value." Now there are 57 world-class geoparks distributed in 18 countries, with 20 located in China.
According to China's requirements for national geoparks, a geopark should have abundant landforms and scientific resources. Therefore some sites selected for Hong Kong geopark were excluded in early December 2008, but the total area is kept at 4000 hectares, including 2 areas and 8 sites:
1. Southeast New Territories
This area mainly comprises rare columnar tuff, including:
High Island and Tai Long Wan: High Island is full of hexagonal rock pillars along the coasts, while Tai Long Wan exhibits volcanic rock coastal landforms.
Kiu Tsui Chau: There are various igneous rocks formed even earlier, including rhyolite, eutaxite, etc.
Kwo Chau Islands: It abounds in abrasion landforms, and the hexagonal rock pillars here are 2 meters or more in diameter.
Ung Kong Islands: It is full of closely arranged hexagonal volcanic rock pillars and sea arches along the coasts.
2. Northeast New Territories
This area comprises colourful and diversified sedimentary rocks:
Tung Peng Chau: Lacustrine sedimentary rocks, the youngest rocks of Hong Kong (66 million years old).
Tolo, Lai Chi Chong, Ma Shi Chau and Bluff Head: The oldest rocks of Hong Kong, formed in Devonian period 400 million years ago.
Yan Chau Tong: As sea water submerges the land, bays and islands here link together to form an inland sea environment.
Port Land: Red conglomerate and sandstone formed in the Cretaceous Period, indicating the semi-desert climate at that time.
The foremost task of application is to submit the application letter to the Central Government, and set the geologically unique places as national geopark. Afterwards, the Government will consider applying to UNESCO for listing them as world geopark.
Yeung Ka Ming, senior country parks officer of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said that they are working closely with non-governmental organizations and Mainland institutions.
"In the past we usually focused on biodiversity, but that was not an all-around way; all the animals and plants absorb nutrition from soil, but soil originates from rocks. Therefore geological protection will benefit the lives in the whole habitat. Only if the government takes up comprehensive conservation will we find what failed to find in the past."
He said that it is encouraging that both the governments of the Mainland and Hong Kong are positive about the concept of geopark.
"If this will not destroy environment and can let more people enjoy themselves, we certainly want to see the achievement!"
For local hiking-lovers and nature-lovers, to appreciate the unique landforms of Hong Kong, especially those animal-like rocks, is no longer a fresh idea. However, the geopark is not established to attract people to watch rocks, but leading them to understand rocks and protect the environment.
Yeung Ka Ming said that if we wanted to get the UNESCO's approval on these geoparks, the public should have a high awareness about their geological importance, and participate in relevant conservation works; therefore knowledge construction is the most difficult task for Hong Kong in the application work.
He said: "The professional geological survey conducted by Hong Kong government leads the world, but for the public, some relevant data are a pile of incomprehensible codes. Therefore what we should do is to cooperate with Civil Engineering and Development Department, local partners and mainland experts to present these data in a form understandable by the common people."
At present, both the education projects and promotion activities have been carried out among schools, and local public vehicles also broadcast relevant publicity clips, influencing millions of citizens every day. However, it is still a far cry from the standard of UNESCO. Yeung Ka Ming admitted that if the citizens do not respond positively, there is nothing the government can do.
Hearing the advice of establishing geopark, many environmentalists worry about the increased risk of damage to these places caused by more frequent public access to the places..
"That is an interesting idea."
Yeung Ka Ming explained: "If more and more people go to one place, this place will be noted by everyone, and this is the first step to enhance recognition; meanwhile, the government will also invest more resources to strengthen management and protection. In contrast, if the place is desolate, citizens and the government may not pay much attention."
He observed that many popular country parks, including Tung Peng Chau, proved that more tourists may promote better management, because on one hand citizens' awareness is enhanced , and on the other hand, the government will endeavour to maximize complaints.
"Of course, it is also necessary to make use of planning and management solution, avoid sensitive places and control the number of tourists. Actually, as it is not allowed to make expansion or build driveway or pier here, all the main scenic spots are kept remote and inaccessible, so the number of tourists can be kept at an acceptable level."
For Yeung Ka Ming, the establishment of geopark is a great chance to enhance rock protection and advocate its importance; however, for some people, it is a business opportunity.
He said: "Actually, we hope the non-governmental organizations can tell their worries sincerely, because every time when we planned to establish a 'park', some people would propose to build hotels or other facilitates; the advices of non-governmental organizations can help us express the true feelings of conservationists, thereby preventing the natural environment from being damaged."
He added that actually the ordinance nearly excludes the possibility of setting up business buildings in country parks. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has now three ordinances and regulations to prevent soil or rocks (even not in country parks) from being removed or damaged in appearance. Any offender, once convicted, will be fined HK$500~5000, or detained for up to 6 months. Therefore, the Hong Kong government thinks that it is not necessary to draft new ordinance for geopark.
The government is planning to renovate the two existing tourist centres to show new exhibits in the geopark. One of the centres will focus on hexagonal columnar tuff, and the other will take the rock history of Hong Kong as theme; and the plan also contains other special exhibitions, geological trails and district activity centre. What is more, the geopark of Hong Kong will adopt audio guide system so as not to damage natural sceneries by excessive guide boards.
Geopark will be assigned to the existing country park and conservation management framework of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and meanwhile an advisory committee will be established to supervise the work.
As some local governments in the Mainland tend to regard geopark and other natural sources as the tool for making money, people worry about the geopark plan of Hong Kong.
Yeung Ka Ming said that each place has its own background and conditions, we should not make bad-informed comments. "However, our rare landforms are close to urban areas, all within the protected area, so we have advantages not available for other places which take several hours to drive. Moreover, as there are many residents and economic activities inside the scenic spots, the situation in Hong Kong is quite different."
"More than that, we can utilize the baseline data of biodiversity and the promotion experience accumulated in recent 10 years, which is rare for many world geoparks based on landforms only, so we are very lucky."
"People in the Mainland generally think that Hong Kong is advanced in management and planning, so they hope that we can play as the window of all geoparks of China to open to the world while establishing geopark." He said that China hoped the geopark of Hong Kong is not only granted national status but also reach the world standard of UNESCO; in fact, Hong Kong seems fully qualified now.
These are all the motivations for China to provide application and technology support for Hong Kong, thereby establishing an exemplary geopark here.
He added: "If we can give a hand in this respect (conservation in China), it will be significant for the conservation organizations of Hong Kong."
"I often tell my colleagues that if one can accomplish some 'family-nation feats', there will be no regret as a civil servant."
