Why country parks benefit Hong Kong

Our country parks are under threat, through a potential surge in village housing in enclaves surrounded by those parks, and the shortsightedness of a government viewing protected land as ripe for development.

According to the government, 40 per cent of Hong Kong's land is designated as country parks and nature reserves. It's an impressive figure. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department notes that few countries have even 10 per cent of their land protected in parks.

In her book Hong Kong Country Parks, biologist Dr Stella Thrower wrote of our first country parks being established in the late 1970s, and promoted by "a few clear-sighted men against a background of apathy and vested interest".

Fast-forward to September, when we had Development Minister Paul Chan Mo-po spark outrage by saying that we should explore the possibility of developing country parks. A spokesman promptly said this view did not represent the government's stance.

But last month, former Executive Council member Franklin Lam Fan-keung said housing could be built in Lantau's country parks, and so transform it from ugly duckling to white swan. He is on a new committee advising the government on developing Lantau. Fellow member Kaizer Lau Ping-cheung added support by suggesting that if country parks were built over and locals needed an undeveloped place to relax away from the pressures of the city, they could travel to the mainland to find it.

Chan, Lam and Lau, our three not-so-wise gentlemen, are apparently unaware that Hong Kong can readily meet housing demand without touching the country parks. They also appear to view the country parks as being like empty spaces, with land that can be improved by pouring concrete, and lots of it. We might even wonder if they have visited the parks, considering a statement by Lam that there are few trees on Lantau.