Farming for fun could revive Hong Kong's country park enclaves
Farming for fun and new guest houses could offer a green solution for controversial sites that lie within country parks but are not part of them
Country park enclaves could become home to leisure farming and guest-house developments, with pilot schemes to be carried out in two areas soon, the head of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.
The idea emerged after talks between department director Alan Wong Chi-kong and rural representative body the Heung Yee Kuk on the city's new agricultural policy yesterday. The policy includes promoting leisure farming - which typically involves small-scale farms that produce little but give people a chance to experience farming life.
The idea could help solve the dilemma of the enclaves - scores of village sites within park boundaries that are not part of the parks. Development has been frozen while the government considers zoning plans for the enclaves. The matter sparked conflict between conservationists, who want the areas protected, and landowners, who fear losing development rights.
The idea received cautious backing from villagers, green campaigners and town planners.
Wong hinted that leisure farming was a green way to develop the enclaves' economic value. The first experiments would be at the controversial Tai Long Sai Wan enclave in Sai Kung and Lai Chi Wo, in Plover Country Park.
"The projects can be run by non-profit organisations in partnership with villagers," Wong said. "The guest houses will be of simple design … to allow visitors to stay overnight."
The Sai Wan enclave was incorporated into Sai Kung East Country Park in 2013 despite protests from villagers and the kuk. A stargazing station and new dining facilities are expected to open there later this year.