Hong Kong Bird Watching Society

Conservation News
Mike Kilburn

The Society has moved up a gear in its efforts to preserve Long Valley. In recent weeks the Society has met with the Transport Department and KCRC to lodge a formal objection to the routing for the railway spur line, which cuts right across the most important part of the valley - only the second formal objection made by the Society in 42 years (the first was to the plans for Fairview Park, out of which official protection for Mai Po eventually appeared).

The ecological significance of the valley as the last area of wet agricultural land in Hong Kong is beyond dispute, not only for Painted Snipe, but also for Japanese Quail, Bluethroat and as a site for over 200 other species.

An appeal by the Society has resulted in letters from members, bird tour companies and respected conservation organisations from all over the world stating the value of Long Valley.

What is at issue now is whether the SAR government is prepared to stand by its commitment to sustainable development and take steps to ensure a viable future for the valley - which in the opinion of the Society is not one which includes a viaduct carry a train every few minutes across the centre of the marsh.

In presenting the SAR Governmentˇs plans for Pollution-free New Towns at Kwu Tung North and Fanling North Gordon Siu, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands stated that Long Valley would be protected as an area of ecological and cultural importance.

However, KCRC has argued that for various technical, economic and legislative reasons the alternative routes proposed by HKBWS are not viable. KCRC has proposed mitigation measures which the Society will not even address until every option for using a route which would avoid the valley has been considered.

HKBWS believes that by taking a holistic approach which involves all the departments with a stake in the development of the NE New Territories and a determination to preserve the valley, that a solution can be found. It seems that Mr Siu believes this too.

The Society has continued to raise the public profile of the issue, which has seen the publication of letters and articles in the English and Chinese press and television coverage by TVB News.