新聞稿 – 步走救海下: 保衛郊野公園，不要村屋佔領
Press release:Walk to Save Hoi Ha – Appeal to Save Our Country Parks from Small Houses

新聞稿 - 步走救海下: 保衛郊野公園，不要村屋佔領

今日有超過一百人參與「保衛郊野公園」的步走救海下活動。 

2010年大浪西灣事件後，政府承諾保護郊野公園範圍內的不包括土地。然而，政府新近推出的幾幅規劃圖仍然有大幅土地預留作興建村屋，其中包括海下。 

活動始於一個傳統的海邊小村──大灘。現在，這個憩靜的地方已被摧毀。最近有大約20間村屋已獲准興建，大批的推土機和挖泥機正在大灘進行工程，溪流對面的田野已被挖走，周圍的樹木也被連根拔起。 

海下村位於西貢郊野公園東北部的不包括土地 ，三面環山的具特殊科學價值地點，北邊是海下海岸公園，眺望深圳。曾到海下的人都對這處的自然風光讚口不絕，海下村距離市區約90分鐘車程，但由於海洋及山林內都擁有極珍貴的生態，每年都吸引約十萬名遊客。海下更是多種動植物棲息地。 更有人認為這人間仙境。 很多人會到海下行山、暢泳、划艇、潛水、觀賞海星或珊瑚，呼吸新鮮空氣，偷半日浮生，暫時離開城市的繁囂。 

城規會最近發布的分區規劃大綱圖，表面上是保護郊野公園及海岸公園，實際上是迎合發展商。該份規劃大綱圖將海下的林地和荒廢近40年、現在已有多種動植物棲息的農地劃為可興建過百間村屋的用地，樹木將被砍伐，生物將無處容身。 

城規會正在審議海下、白臘、土瓜坪、北潭凹以及其他不包括土地的分區計劃大綱圖。明顯地，鄉議局正不斷爭取在西貢郊野公園及船灣郊野公園中心預留大面積土地用作興建丁屋。 

然而，漁護署署長作為郊野公園及海岸公園管理一員。對於在郊野公園範圍建造丁屋對西貢及船灣郊野公園完整性的累計影響，仍然未有作出任何評估。 

在2010年大浪西灣事件後，署方承諾保護「不包括土地」，使其不會「被發展」。事實上，署長卻認為把由私人持有的「不包括土地」納入郊野公園將帶來太多麻煩──因為他需要處理發展申請和索償的問題。 

他並沒有發現，根據丁屋政策將發展「不包括土地」的控制權拱手交予的地政署只為會他帶來更多麻煩。縱觀新界，我們只見：雜亂丁屋群、缺乏公共污水處理系統、隨意興建的污水渠、非法侵佔土地得來的非正式道路及停車場。

隨著大量的村屋工程和人口增加，郊野公園內的交通將變得頻繁。隨之而來的就是每個住戶可向民政事務處及漁護署為兩架車申請許可證。，交通流量增加而需擴闊路面。如果政府不處理這些交通問題，非法的道路工程將會代勞。現時白腊的村民就正向署長施壓，要求政府以公帑在郊野公園內興建新的道路以取代現時的非法道路。 

「保衛郊野公園」不能任由這些村屋像癌細胞般摧毀郊野公園。如果真的有改變郊野公園邊界，就應該是履行2010年的承諾，將不包括土地劃入郊野公園，不要發展。 

「保衛郊野公園」將會在10月19日假西貢大會堂舉辦公眾論壇與大家（包括村民）作更深入的討論。 

保衛郊野公園
二零一三年十月十四日

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步走救海下 Walk to Save Hoi Ha

步走救海下

「保衛郊野公園」將於今年10月14日於海下及周邊鄉村舉辦導賞團，以示我們對海下的關注和保護郊野公園的決心。我們首先到大灘視察大規模村屋建設，然後會到海下及海岸公園。

我們的郊野公園正受到在不包括土地興建村屋的威脅。自2010年大浪西灣事件後，政府承諾保護郊野公園範圍內的不包括土地。然而，政府新近推出的海下、白臘和鎖羅盆規劃圖仍然有大幅土地預留作興建村屋。

大灘

大灘位於西貢郊野公園內，背山面海的壯觀景色使它成為香港最美麗的村莊之一。大灘的步行徑備受行山人士歡迎，沿路兩旁都是樹木和溪流。大灘同時是野生動物如箭豬，猴子，野豬，翠鳥的棲息地，也是香港的海貓頭鷹經常出沒的地方。

現在，這個憩靜的地方已被摧毀。最近有大約20間村屋已獲准興建，大批的推土機和挖泥機正在大灘進行工程，溪流對面的田野已被挖走，周圍的樹木也被連根拔起。

海下

海下村位於西貢郊野公園東北部，三面環山，北邊是海下海岸公園，眺望深圳。曾到海下的人都對這處的自然風光讚口不絕，更有人認為這人間仙境。海下村周邊是極具保育價值的動植物棲息地，香港政府早在1997年把海下灣定為「特別地區及具特殊科學價值地點」。海下村距離市區約90分鐘車程，但由於海洋及山林內都擁有極珍貴的生態，每年都吸引約十萬名遊客。很多人會到海下行山、暢泳、划艇、潛水、觀賞海星或珊瑚，呼吸新鮮空氣，偷半日浮生，暫時離開城市的繁囂。

城規會最近發布的分區規劃大綱圖，表面上是保護郊野公園及海岸公園，實際上是迎合發展商。該份規劃大綱圖將海下的林地和荒廢近40年、現在已有多種動植物棲息的農地劃為可興建過百間村屋的用地，樹木將被砍伐，生物將無處容身。

行程安排：

1)大灘導賞團
早上10:00    大灘巴士站集合
大灘導賞團及步行至海下(約三哩)

聯絡人:  英文- David Newbery 9088 7003；中文- 侯先生 94668167

2) 海下導賞團
中午12:00   海下燒烤場公廁旁集合
海下導賞團及郊野公園近況簡介                         

聯絡人：
英文- Nicola Newbery 2791 6449 / 9720 4142；中文- 侯先生2987 6253 / 9466 8167
[請注意海下的手提訊號接收不佳]
交通提示：
1）駕駛人士需確保有出入郊野公園的許可證。如記者需要協助，請與我們聯絡。

2）於大灘巴士站集合的人士：

從西貢市中心乘搭往黃石碼頭的94號巴士（每30分鐘一班，大約需要20分鐘車程到大灘）

3）於海下集合的人士：

1. 從西貢市中心乘搭往海下的7號小巴（每20分鐘一班，大約需要25分鐘車程到海下，每人車費                 HK $ 10.7）
2. 西貢市中心乘搭新界的士到海下(需時約20分鐘，費用為HK $ 95)

歡迎大家參與。為方便大會安排，有興趣參加人士講到以下網址報名!
如有任何查詢，請致電海下之友侯先生 (電話: 2987 6253)。

保衛郊野公園、保衛海岸公園

二零一三年十月十日

由海下之友發起的網上聯署信: http://www.supporthk.org/i.php/View/374?_lang=zh_HK

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Hong Kong, 10 October 2013

Walk to Save Hoi Ha

On 14 October 2013,   ”Save Our Country Parks” is organizing a walk around Hoi Ha to show our concern over development and determination to protect country parks. The walk will start at Tai Tan to see large scale small house construction in progress, and end at Hoi Ha and the marine park.

Our Country Parks are under threat by small house development in enclaves. Following the 2010 Tai Long Sai Wan incident, Government promised to protect enclaves surrounded by Country Parks against development. Yet the plans gazetted for enclaves including Hoi Ha by the Town Planning Board reserve land for large-scale small house developments.

Tai Tan

Set against a backdrop of mountains and with a spectacular view of the sea and Sharp Peak in Sai Kung Country Park, Tai Tan is one of the most beautiful villages in Hong Kong. It lies on a walking trail which is popular with weekend trekkers. It is home to abundant wildlife such as porcupines, monkeys, wild boars, kingfisher birds, and is a regular haunt for one of Hong Kong’s few fish owls. The approach to the village is a one-track lane lined with trees and a winding stream.

Now this peaceful idyll is being destroyed. Recently bulldozers and diggers have moved in to build some 20 houses, granted permission under the Small House Policy. A field opposite the stream has been cleared and dug
up and surrounding trees and bushes have been hacked down.

Hoi Ha

Hoi Ha village is an enclave which overlooks the Hoi Ha Marine Park, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and one of Hong Kong’s four Marine Parks. With distant views of mainland China on the northern horizon, Hoi Ha is surrounded by Sai Kung Country Park’s wooded hills on the landward side.   Hoi Ha is a site of outstanding ecology with species of Conservation Interest both in the sea and within its woodland. The area attracts 100,000 visitors a year who make the 90-minute journey to escape the city’s densely populated urban jungle to bathe in the clean sea water, kayak in the sheltered bay, take delight in the many starfish exposed at low tide, and SCUBA dive and snorkel over the coral.

The Town Planning Board’s recently released Draft Outline Zoning Plan panders to developers, paying only lip-service to protection of the Country and Marine Parks.  The zoning will allow up to a hundred houses to be built. Mature woodland will have to be felled and farmland will be lost together with a rich diversity of flora and fauna which established since the land was abandoned more than 40 years ago.

Itinerary

1)     Tai Tan Tour
10:00 am      Meet at Tai Tan Village bus stop
Tai Tan Village tour and 3-mile hike to Hoi Ha

Contact persons:  English- David Newbery 9088 7003; Chinese- Tom Hou 9466 8167

2)     Hoi Ha Tour

12:00 am        Meet at Hoi Ha barbecue site, near the public toilets
Hoi Ha Tour and briefing

Contact persons:
English- Nicola Newbery 2791 6449 / 9720 4142; Chinese – Tom Hou 2987 6253 / 9466 8167

[Please note that there is limited mobile phone reception at Hoi Ha]

Transportation tips:

1) For those who drive, please make sure you have a Country Park Vehicle Entry permit for the vehicle.  Media who need assistance can contact Nicola (below).

2) For those who use public transport to Tai Tan Village:

The 94 bus from Sai Kung Town Centre to Wong Shek Pier runs every 30 minutes and takes about 20 minutes to Tai Tan.

3) For those who take public transport to Hoi Ha:

a.  The 7 minibus from Sai Kung Town Centre to Hoi Ha runs every 20 minutes and takes about 25 minutes to Hoi Ha (HK$10.7 /head)

b. Green Taxi from Sai Kung Town Centre to Hoi Ha takes 20 minutes and costs around HK$95.

Join us! Click here to let us know you are joining us!

For information, please contact Nicola Newbery (Friends of Hoi Ha), 2791 6449 or [email protected]

Save Hoi Ha – Save Our Country Park ,Save Our Marine Park

Hoi Ha petition by Friends of Hoi Ha: http://www.supporthk.org/i.php/View/374?_lang=en

新聞稿 – 城規會送郊野公園的三個死亡之吻 Press Release – Country Parks: Three kisses of death today

新聞稿 - 2013年9月27日 城規會送郊野公園的三個死亡之吻 依據《城市規劃條例》第 5 條，海下 (S/NE-HH/1)、白腊 (S/SK-PL/1) 和鎖羅盆(S/NE-SLP/1)的分區計劃大綱草圖由城市規劃委員會擬備，於今日刊憲。雖然2010年政府曾承諾會保護郊野公園內54塊不包括土地，但今日刊憲的三個地方分別在西貢及船灣郊野公園深處，草圖留有大量土地以興建丁屋。我們參考現時其他郊野公園不包土地的發展比例計算，長此下去，西貢郊野公園內將會有3,000間村屋，而船灣將會有4,000間。 創建香港行政總裁司馬文指： 「政府違反當年的承諾，沒有盡力將不包括土地劃入郊野公園。更沒考慮到村屋發展為郊野公園帶來的整體性破壞，沒有準備任何交通、環境及景觀評估報告。 村屋儼如癌細胞般在郊野公園擴散，很快就會被公路、車輛、水渠、污水、非法佔地建設、斜坡鞏固及停車場佔據」   Press Release  - 27 September 2013Country Parks: Three kisses of death today Despite the promise in 2010 to protect against development in fifty four enclaves, the Town Planning Board has today gazetted statutory plans under section 5 of the Town Planning Ordinance for Hoi Ha (S/NE-HH/1), Pak Lap (S/SK-PL/1) and So Lo Pun (S/NE-SLP/1). The zoning for the first three enclaves allow the construction of large numbers of Small (New Territories Exempted) Houses deep inside the Sai Kung and Plover Cove Country Parks. Assuming similar ratios for all enclaves, Designing Hong Kong estimates that the East and West Sai Kung Country Parks will see 3,000 and the Plover Cove Country Park around 4,000 new Small Houses. Paul Zimmerman, CEO of Designing Hong Kong: “The Government failed its promise to diligently consider incorporating the enclaves under Country Park protection. There has been no environmental, traffic or visual impact assessment of the cumulative impacts on country parks of small house developments in the enclaves.” “The cancer of small house villages seen throughout the New Territories will now spread to the country parks. The environment will rapidly deteriorate with demands for roads and transport, and the chaos of effluent drainage, sewage percolation, and unauthorized occupation of land for construction, slope stabilisation, and parking.”

保衛郊野公園「一齊行」Let’s Walk – Save Our Country Parks

Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/733737779975588/

(For English please scroll down)

這是展現我們決心保衛郊野公園的時候，這是我們身體力行打出守護郊野公園的一仗！

路線：黃泥涌水塘公園(陽明山莊) → 大潭水塘建築群 → 大潭道
起步時間：上午9:30 (請提早到起點集合)
難度：輕易，適合一家大小同行，可以推BB車。

【活動詳情】
保衛郊野公園 – 大潭郊野公園導賞活動
型式：定點導賞(2個)
起點：陽明山莊路口
終點：大潭道巴士站洗手間旁
全程連導賞時間約2.5小時

【起點交通資料】
途經黃泥涌峽道「黃泥涌水塘公園」站的巴士路線
6 – 中環（交易廣場）→ 赤柱監獄
41A – 北角碼頭 → 華富（中）
76 – 銅鑼灣（摩頓台）→ 石排灣

【終點交通資料】
途經大潭道「大潭水塘」的巴士及專綫小巴路線資料
巴士:
14 – 嘉亨灣／赤柱炮台（閘口）
314 – 小西灣（藍灣半島）／赤柱（海灘／市場）
小巴:
16A，16M，16X – 柴灣站／赤柱／舂坎角

【注意事項】
1). 活動前兩小時，天文台發出雷暴警告、三號或以上的風球，或紅雨、黑雨警告，活動便自動取消。
2). 請自備簡單乾糧及充足飲料，避免使用即棄物品。
3). 帶備雨傘及防蚊用品等。
4). 活動不包括保險，請自行保障個人安全。

【Facebook 活動專頁】https://www.facebook.com/events/733737779975588/

We are determined to save our country parks, we are ready to fight for it !
Itinerary : Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park → Tai Tam Reservoir Complex → Tai Tam Road
Time for start : 9.30 am (Please arrive at the starting point earlier)
Difficulty: easy, suitable for families, you can bring your baby trolly.

[Event Details]
Save Our Country Parks – Tai Tam Country Park guided tours
Type: Guided point (2)
Starting point: Parkview intersection
Endpoints: Tai Tam Road bus stop next to the toilet
Duration about 2.5 hours including guided tour

【Start point traffic information】
Bus routes via Wong Nai Chung Gap Road “Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park” station
6 – Central (Exchange Square) → Stanley Prison
41A – North Point Ferry Pier → Wah Fu (Central)
76 – Causeway Bay (Moreton Terrace) → Shek Pai Wan

[End point traffic information]
Via Tai Tam Road “Tai Tam Reservoir” bus and GMB Route Information
Buses:
14 – Grand Promenade / Stanley Fort (Gate)
314 – Siu Sai Wan (Island Resort) / Stanley (Beach / Market)
Minibus:
16A, 16M, 16X – Chai Wan Station / Stanley / Chung Hom Kok

[Note]
1).Two hours before the event, the Hong Kong Observatory issued a thunderstorm warning, the 3rd or above typhoon signal or Red, Black Rainstorm warning, events will be automatically canceled.
2).Please bring your own drinks and adequate food, avoiding the use of disposable items.
3). Bring umbrellas and mosquito supplies.
4). Activities do not include insurance, please protect your own personal safety.

【Facebook  event page】https://www.facebook.com/events/733737779975588/

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「保衛郊野公園」行動，是由香港地球之友、香港海豚保育學會、香港自然探索學會、綠領行動、綠色和平、香港自然生態論壇、西貢大浪灣關注組、大浪灣之友、長春社、創建香港、綠色力量、環保觸覺、香港地貌岩石保育協會、大嶼山愛護水牛協會、綠色社區、西貢之友、Hong Kong Outdoors、香港觀鳥會、Ark Eden等機構組成。我們希望透過今次聯合行動，向全港市民表達一個訊息：保衛郊野公園，寸土必爭。

我們會透過舉辦一系列活動，再次喚醒市民關注平衡發展和環境保育的重要性，我們亦會向社會提出實質有建設性的提議，推動我們作為在一個可持續發展同時，自然生態亦得以受保護的世界領先城市。

期望大家身體力行，為我們的家、我們的下一代，共同獻出一分力。

請密切留意我們的Facebook專頁：https://www.facebook.com/saveourcountryparks

“Save Our Country Park” action by Friends of the Earth Hong Kong, Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, Society of Hong Kong Nature Explorers, Greeners Action, Greenpeace, HKWildLife.net, Sai Kung Tai Long Wan Concern Group, Friends of Tai Long Wan, the Conservancy Association, Designing Hong Kong, Green Power, Green Sense, the Hong Kong Association for Geoconservation, Lantau Buffalo Association, Green Communities, Friends of Sai Kung, Hong Kong Outdoors, Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, Ark Eden etc. We hope that through this joint action, expressing a message to all the people: to save our country park for every inch.

We will organize a series of activities to raise public awareness about the importance of balance between development and the environmental conservation, we will propose constructive proposal to the community, to promote Hong Kong as a world’s leading cities in sustainable development.

Let’s join together to take action for our home and next generation!

Please like and follow our Facebook page for any updates: https://www.facebook.com/saveourcountryparks

Press Release – The destruction of the Plover Cove Country Park approved by the Town Planning Board

Press Release  The destruction of the Plover Cove Country Park approved by the Town Planning Board The minutes of the Town Planning Board meeting of 9 August 2013 show that it approved the publication of the Outline Zoning Plan for So Lo Pun with an area for 135 small houses. The Country and Marine Parks Authority – the Director of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department – failed to object to small house developments in So Lo Pun, and failed to stop the invasion of small houses in the Plover Cove Country Park. So Lo Pun is an abandoned village on the outer edge of the Plover Cove Country Park without road access or sewerage, in an area with a sensitive ecology. Find out more about Plover Cove Country Park at the Government’s own website. There are no outstanding Small House applications for So Lo Pun as land owners have no interest in living there. But keen to profit from development rights villagers rallied together protesting against conservation with banners throughout the Plover Cove Country Park. They wrote letters to the Town Planning Board claiming they would return to the village in the future. The village representative estimated an entirely unverifiable 10-year forecast demand of 270 small houses, and an even larger v-zone was included. So Lo Pun is the first of seven new enclaves to be zoned for small house developments in the Plover Cove Country Park. The future spread of the small house cancer can be seen from the locations of the enclaves. Demands for roads to support the developments are already being made. The Outline Zoning Plan allows for such public works and infrastructure. The environmental impact of the cumulative house and infrastructure developments permitted in So Lo Pun and Plover Cove Country Park as a whole has NOT been assessed before granting approvals. The existing enclave Wu Kau Tang (Marked B in blue on the map) shows how the environment will degrade under the Small House Policy. With the failure of the Planning Department and the AFCD to stand up to the Lands Department and the Heung Yee Kuk, the small house cancer will be allowed to destroy the Plover Cover Country Park. The community should reconsider its options. These enclaves of private land can be included in the Country Park, with compensation reflecting the agricultural purpose of the block Government leases. Up-zoning these areas for village house development first will increase the public cost for resumption and compensation. Alternatively, compensation might be considered by means of land exchange to villagers/land owners when their private land is zoned for conservation. Either way, it is not too late for the public to stand up against the small house destruction.

Press Release – Town Planning Board did not wait for Paul Chan to destroy the Sai Kung Country Parks

Despite objections from green groups and conservation experts, Government has given in to the Heung Yee Kuk with large development zones for small houses inside country parks.

During today’s meeting, the Board agreed to publish the first 2 draft Outline Zoning Plans in the Sai Kung Country Parks. Based on the land zoned for small house development (v-zones) in Pak Lap and Hoi Ha, it is estimated that more than 3,000 small houses may be built inside the country park once the full 320ha of all 19 enclaves is zoned. The community will have two months to object and tell the Heung Yee Kuk to take their hands off our country parks.

Hoi Ha (S/NE-HH/1) is a village of 8ha with 34 houses adjacent to the Hoi Ha Marine Park: 80 more houses can be built on the new v-zone and green belt ‘expansion’ area.

The second zoning approved today is for Pak Lap (S/SK-PL/1), a village of 6ha with 20 houses: 72 houses can be added despite the lack of access (oops, not counting the illegal road built recently).

The flood of new small houses will destroy the Sai Kung Country Parks.  There has been no environmental impact assessment of the cumulative impact of the zoning for small houses, nor has the Country and Marine Parks Board considered the combined impacts of these developments on the Sai Kung Country Parks.

There are around 500 houses in the ‘inner’ Sai Kung Country Park – past the gate at Pak Tam Chung. Creating development zones for 3,000 new small houses will increase demand for transport and increase road traffic during construction and after occupation when each house can have 3 flats, and each dwelling can have two vehicle permits. This creates the need for road widening and improvements works such as street lights affecting the entire inner country park.

More importantly, Small or Village House developments are officially known as ‘New Territories Exempted Houses’ – the most destructive form of development in Hong Kong. We note just a few “exemptions”:

1.       There is no sewerage and village houses depend on percolation through the ground from septic tanks and soak away pits, contaminating underground and surrounding waters.
2.       Storm drains are laid at random by private contractors for each house separately through the surrounding country park to nearby waters.
3.       Expedient connections from baths, and often kitchens and toilets pollute the storm drains, and nearby waters.
4.       No access, roads, paths or parking spaces are provided forcing residents to resort to unlawful road construction and illegal occupation of government land in country parks.
5.       Each house is either exempted from site formation or developers construct their own platforms.
6.       Excavation, land filling, platform and small house construction lacks quality controls. Land formation, excavation and slope stabilization is random and of poor quality extending well into the country park.
7.       The location of each house is subject to application and ownership of previous paddy fields rather than based on well planned village layouts. This leads to chaotic developments as can be seen in all village environs in Hong Kong.
8.       And we have yet to explain the environmental pollution of the actual construction of individual houses by village contractors.

The Town Planning Board is approving the destruction of the Sai Kung Country Parks with small house developments.

Pak Lap has 20 houses today. The red line indicates the land made available for new small houses.

Hoi Ha has 34 houses today. The red line indicates the land made available for new small houses.