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22/04/2015 12:02

一人一信支持蒲台郊野公園，4月27日截止!!
Every Submission Counts! Support the Po Toi Country Park on or before the deadline 27 April 2015!!!

• 填寫網上請願信〔系統有每日發送上限〕：http://goo.gl/forms/U5kxNUVULO。
  Fill in our online petition form (only limited quotas can be sent each day): http://goo.gl/forms/ciUspdnqyz
  
  或OR
  
  
• 請將你的意見電郵至tpbpd@pland.gov.hk，內容可以參考一下的申述。
  Please submit your comments via email to tpbpd@pland.gov.hk. Feel free to refer to the letter below for the content of your submission.
  
  或OR
  
  
• 透過城規會網頁提交意見(http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/tc/plan_making/draft_plan.html#IR)。在「蒲台群島 S/I-PTI/1」一欄內，按下「提交申述」的超連結。
  Submit your comments through the system in the Town Planning Board website (http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/en/plan_making/draft_plan.html#IR). Click “Make Representation” in the row for “Po Toi Islands OZP (S/I-PTI/1)”.

• (1) Po Toi Islands are the southern-most outlying islands in Hong Kong. Owing to its special geographical location, the lack of disturbance and quality of habitats on the island, Po Toi is a crucial refuelling stop for migratory birds that is of international importance and of special scientific value for the study of bird migration in Hong Kong and the East Asian Flyway.

• (2) 328 species of birds have been recorded on Po Toi and its nearby waters, which is over 60% of the total number of Hong Kong and includes many rare and globally threatened species. This number of species is comparable to that in Mai Po and well in excess of that in Long Valley or Tai Po Kau.

• (3) Tai Wan, Wan Tsai (near the pier) and Ngong Chong of Po Toi are of high ecological value as they provide essential foraging and roosting habitats (e.g., large mature trees) for migratory birds and many of them are of conservation importance.

• (4) Po Toi supports a natural population of the endemic and endangered Romer’s Tree Frog, Burmese Python, Tree Gecko and a variety of butterfly species.

• (5) The waters around Po Toi are of conservation importance. Finless Porpoises frequent waters in the area. Waglan Island has a breeding colony of terns. The unspoilt natural setting contributes to the landscape and ecological value of the area.

• (6) Po Toi Island is an excellent outdoor classroom for studying and appreciating granite geomorphology as well as an interesting attraction for sightseers.  The vast Po Toi Granite was formed from the last large magma intrusion in Hong Kong dated back to 140 million years ago, weathering and erosion combined to produce an amazing,  unique and spectacular landforms which are of high aesthetic and educational value.There are no other areas in Hong Kong which has such high concentration of high aesthetic valued granite tors such as the famous Buddha’s Palm, Monk Rock,Sacred Tortoise etc. on just one small island.

• (7) Po Toi is a popular location for holiday visitors.Recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, bird-watching and wildlife photography are attracting large and growing numbers of visitors to the island.There are also special cultural activities on Po Toi, which include Chinese Opera and dragon-boat racing during Festival (太平清醮)and sea-weed collecting.

• (1) TPB should recognize the significant ecological, geological and cultural value of Po Toi Islands.

• (2) TPB should support the current “Conservation Area” (CA)zoning, which is primarily for conservation and generally against development.The CA zoning should also expand into the “Residential (Group D)” (R(D)) zoning in order to provide better protection to the important habitats within the R(D)zone.

• (3) TPB should object to the “Residential (Group D)” (R(D)) zoning,which is primarily for upgrading of existing temporary structures and for low-rise, low-density residential developments. The R(D) zone is located at the mature woodland next to the pier.  Any development in the area would cause adverse impact on the woodland which is an important foraging and roosting location for migratory birds. The area should be zoned as “Conservation Area” (CA), which “redevelopment of houses” can be applied through the TPB and considered on a case-by-case basis.

• (4) TPB should ensure the mature trees at the north of the Village Type Development zone are properly protected. Any future Small House development should avoid areas of mature trees and each application should only be considered by the TPB on a case-by-case basis.

• (5) TPB should recognize the limitations of the statutory control of zonings under the Town Planning Ordinance, in which the development of recreational facilities (with overnight accommodation) may lead to irreversible ecological impacts on Po Toi Islands. Therefore, TPB should not support such recreational developments unless the islands are under active management by the Authorities (i.e., zoned as Country Park and managed by the Agriculture,Fisheries and Conservation Department).

• (6) TPB should zone Po Toi as "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI) to step-up the protection of the area; and ultimately should support the designation of the Po Toi Islands as Country Park for comprehensive management and protection under the Country Park Ordinance. The designation of Country Park would prevent any haphazard developments which may cause adverse and irreparable impact to the Po Toi Islands, and would benefit local residents as well as visitors by provision of basic infrastructure and some recreational utilities.