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Conservation planning should also facilitate healthy development

2021-11-15T09:26:50.371Z


In the early years, the SAR government recognized Shatin Meizilin and Maoping as one of the “sites that must be prioritized to strengthen conservation” under the “New Nature Conservation Policy”. In recent months, some people have started operating fee-paying campsites, but the media questioned them.


In the early years, the SAR government confirmed that Meizilin and Maoping in Sha Tin are one of the "sites that must be prioritized for strengthening conservation" under the "New Nature Conservation Policy". Some people have started operating campsites in recent months, but the media questioned that they might be illegal. develop.

The person in charge emphasized that the land involved was all private land held by local villagers or leased from the developer at their own expense, and advocated that the relevant project can "revitalize" abandoned agricultural land and provide convenience for mountain hikers. He also criticized different government departments for following up on the project. The village’s attitude towards problems is quite negative, including failing to help clean up the illegal dumping of waste in front of the village and providing adequate public toilet facilities.


According to the draft Ma On Shan outline zoning plan (S/MOS/23) of the Town Planning Board, the campsites are classified as "village-style development" and "green belt". The notes on the plan indicate that the former is "on the ground floor of exempted buildings in the New Territories and is often permitted." The uses also include...shop and services", and the latter's frequently approved uses also include "barbecue places" and "tent camping ground", and can be approved after applying to the City Planning Board. It is used as a "holiday camp" or "recreation, sports and entertainment venue".

Meizilin Village.

(Photo by Yan Minghui)

Suspected violation of regulations in the camp in the village

Although the person in charge of the camp insists that the site is in line with the planned use, in general, the land use of the "holiday camp" in the planning plan notes does not belong to the "shop and service industry", "barbecue site" and "tent camp", which are similar The "Government, Institution or Community", "Open Space" and "Nature Conservation Area" notes in the district draft all list them as different uses that must be applied to the Town Planning Board first.

In response to media enquiries, the Planning Department stated that the relevant site used as a "resort" this time has not obtained the necessary planning permission, but because it lacks a "development approval area map", it does not have the statutory authority to perform control work.

On the other hand, the "New Nature Conservation Policy" has a "Public-Private Cooperation Scheme", which allows limited development in priority conservation sites that are less vulnerable to ecological damage, but a lump-sum payment to the Environment and Conservation Fund is required. Pay for long-term conservation work and appoint an agent to carry out the required conservation work on a regular basis.

However, the Environmental Protection Agency also stated that it had not received any application for Meizilin’s "Public-Private Cooperation Program", and the person in charge of the camp had expressed dissatisfaction with the government charging them for "rehabilitation" on social media.

Meizilin PLUM Camp (Photo on Facebook Page)

The authorities' management of conservation needs to be improved

The Meizilin camp may be suspected of illegal development, but the incident reflects that the Hong Kong government has insufficient land management, policy promotion, and rural conservation.

For example, if the authorities are not authorized to enforce law in areas not covered by the "Development Approval Area Map", this loophole was discovered many years ago but has never been plugged.

As for the "Public-Private Cooperation Plan" under the "New Nature Conservation Policy", the response has not been good since its launch, and the huge fees are not affordable for ordinary people. Management contracts...can only play a short-term role in limited locations."

More importantly, the view that the development of private land at one's own expense does not require regulation has in fact been widespread among rural landowners, and government departments should have corrected it long ago.

In addition, the authorities undoubtedly have the responsibility to explain the specific scope of the land use project descriptions such as "shops and service industries" and "tent camps" in the plan notes clearly to the owner in advance, rather than allowing the other party to continue to leave misunderstandings or even Only after the media exposed the dispute did they rush to strengthen the management.

Finally, although the site itself is located in a conservation site, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's inspections in the first half of this month did not find that the trees on government land have been removed. Affirmatively, as a whole, it still meets the goals of "providing citizens with more opportunities to appreciate the natural environment" in the "New Nature Conservation Policy".

Considering that rural private camps are an emerging product of the epidemic, government authorities really need to review the current planning and supervision system so that they can develop healthily without damaging the natural environment.

Conservation of cultural relics must also grasp the opportunities of the "14th Five-Year Plan" The Northern Ecological Conservation Policy Should Be Implemented COP26 | Are countries seriously facing climate issues?

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2021-11-15

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