Country parks give us Hongkongers space to breathe in some fresh air and be close to nature, a much-needed refuge. They have opened our eyes to the thriving biodiversity in the city and the scenic beauty that makes it so special. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us how precious nature is: it is not something to be concreted over without thought, but to be appreciated and protected. We are beginning to understand that our well-being is interwoven with nature, and encroaching on the country parks to build public housing , especially when other options are available, should be considered sacrilege. Our chief executive, Carrie Lam, was right to shelve such a proposal in the past, and for the idea to be raised again is a sad indictment of the lack of understanding of how important our parks are. They are essential not only for outdoor exercise but for our mental health. The parks belong to everyone, they soothe the soul and should be left alone so that future generations may enjoy them, just as we do. Our seas must also remain untouched; we want our rare pink dolphins to have a natural home, and not be consigned to the history books because of our continual thirst for development. Truckloads of our tax money are about to be poured into the Lantau Tomorrow Vision , and the repercussions of such a reclamation project will change our seascape forever. In the words of Sir David Attenborough: We need to “put a value on nature that goes far beyond money”. Joan Miyaoka, Sha Tin
