Director鈥檚 Message

On behalf of the staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, I am pleased to present the annual report for 2011-12, which was a significant and encouraging year for us all.

Most significantly, we were honoured to have our geopark accepted into the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in September 2011 and the geopark was officially renamed as Hong Kong Global Geopark of China. The designation by the GGN marks worldwide recognition of the territory鈥檚 geological heritage, as well as its great potential for sustainable recreational development. The range of significant geological sites and features within the geopark and its proximity to the urban area are unique. Indeed, our acceptance into the GGN makes Hong Kong Geopark an international icon capable of attracting tourists and residents, and will also serve as a strong catalyst for the continuing preservation of the local environment.

In the past year our country parks remained a popular destination for hiking and other recreational activities, drawing some 13.3 million visitors. To meet the increasing popularity of mountain biking activities in country parks, two new mountain bike trails were opened to the public during the year. The Department also continued with the Country Parks Education Programme "Nature in Touch" to strengthen educational nature conservation resources in country parks, and conducted a series of conservation activities involving over 320,000 local students, teachers and nature lovers.

Outreach activities remained a primary focus of our efforts and the Hong Kong Wetland Park organised a wide range of functions for some 182,000 visitors of all ages including guided tours, seminars, wildlife watching classes, contests, dramas, art workshops and thematic events. The Park also offered guided visit programmes for students from kindergartens to senior secondary schools.

Our efforts to combat illegal trade in endangered species continued during the year. In February 2012, the Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora awarded a certificate of commendation to the Department in recognition of our exemplary enforcement efforts in tackling a smuggling case involving rhino horns from South Africa. This is the second time Hong Kong has been awarded such a certificate 鈥the previous occasion was in 2003.

I am also pleased to report some new developments aimed at bringing the fishing industry back to a sustainable path. Subsidiary legislation to ban trawling in Hong Kong waters was passed by the Legislative Council in May 2011 and will come into effect on December 31, 2012. A package of measures was introduced to help those affected by the ban, whereby trawler fishermen will be paid ex-gratia allowances, local deckhands will receive one-off grants, and the owners of inshore trawlers can join a voluntary buy-out scheme. The Department also introduced a training programme to assist affected trawler fishermen and local deckhands in acquiring skills to enable them to switch to more sustainable modes of operation such as mariculture and recreational fishing.

Good progress has been made in promoting the cultivation of premium vegetables and helping farmers to gain better economic returns. During the year, seven improved varieties including a watermelon with golden-yellow rind, coloured sweet peppers, a mini wax gourd, a yellow cucumber, a green bitter cucumber, a sweet potato and Chinese cabbage were introduced to farmers for local production. To help farmers expand their customer base we also co-organised FARMFEST 2012, at which about 300 stalls showcased a wide variety of local agricultural and fishery products. The event was highly successful, attracting over 280,000 visitors.

The Department has been collaborating with animal welfare organisations to implement a "Trap-Neuter-Relocation" pilot programme for stray cattle in Sai Kung and Lantau Island with a view to controlling their population and minimising the nuisance and danger potentially caused by stray cattle to the public. A total of 90 cattle/buffalo were neutered and released to suitable locations during the year. A new team has been established to perform cattle neutering and handle cattle-related complaints in a timely manner.

To educate the public on responsible pet ownership, raise awareness of animal welfare and further promote the re-homing of pets, a series of school seminars, estate seminars, dog obedience training courses, roving exhibitions and competitions as well as a carnival and various joint educational programmes were held throughout the year.

These efforts would not have been possible without the whole-hearted support of stakeholders and the wider community, not to mention the dedication and hard work of our colleagues. Having said so much about the past year, let's look ahead to the future. I am confident that what we achieved in 2011-12 will reap a good harvest in the years to come, certainly if we continue working together towards a better environment for Hong Kong.