Nature loses its colours

Green groups slam government for paving country paths under rural projects exempt from environmental impact assessment

Green groups have condemned government supervision of the rural public works (RPW) programme that has led to the concreting of country paths, accusing the authorities of taming Hong Kong's once rugged hiking trails. The move comes after a Sunday Morning Post investigation revealed the extent of footpath 'improvements' conducted last year.

They include the paving of trails at Needle Hill in Sha Tin, Sheung Shui, near Lai Chi Wo Village in Plover Cove Country Park, Tuen Mun Trail, Tsing Yi Nature Trails, trails leading to Amah Rock, section two of the MacLehose Trail, and the provision of concrete steps leading down to the beach at Tai Long Wan.

The Conservancy Association, the World Wide Fund for Nature, Save Our Trails and Friends of Tai Long Wan have urged the Home Affairs Department to release details of future projects.

Peter Li Siu-man, of the Conservancy Association, said country park management was being undermined by district councils, which propose and vet minor rural works under the stewardship of the Home Affairs Department.

'How can you 'improve' a natural trail? ... Now it's like any ordinary village road. The government allocates all this money to the district councils that they don't know how to use,' he said.

He added that trying to get information from the Home Affairs Department was like trying to squeeze blood out of stone. 'For us to track these projects we have to monitor the papers of all the meetings in 18 districts so it's almost impossible. They should compile a list of rural works so if necessary we can make our objections known,' Mr Li said.