Country Parks and Marine Parks in Lantau

2020.07

General introduction on country parks and marine parks in Lantau

Fig. Existing and proposed protected area system on the Lantau Island and in surrounding waters

Country Parks in Lantau

Hong Kong has established a well-organized and efficient protected area system to protect our natural resources since the 70s. At present, about 40% of Hong Kong’s land area has been designated as country parks and special areas under the Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208) for conservation, countryside recreation and outdoor education purposes.

About 70% of the land in Lantau has already been designated as country parks, including the Lantau North Country Park, Lantau North (Extension) Country Park and the Lantau South Country Park. The two famous peaks, Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak, which attract thousands of hikers every year, are encompassed by the Lantau South Country Park. The undulating uplands and peak areas in the country parks offer picturesque panoramic views towards different directions of the Island, including the splendid coastline in the south and the Chek Lap Kok International Airport in the north on one hand, while preserving various important habitats such as natural streams and montane forests.

In addition to country parks, there are eight Site of Special Scientific Interest and two Special Areas in Lantau which were designated for conservation of important ecological resources of the Island.

Marine Parks in Lantau

There are three existing marine parks in the surrounding waters of Lantau, namely the Sha Chau and Lung Kwun Chau Marine Park, the Brothers Marine Park, and the Southwest Lantau Marine Park. These three Marine Parks are designated under the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476), with a view to conserving the Chinese White Dolphins, their habitats and the marine and fisheries resources therein.

To better conserve the marine environment of Lantau, the Government will continue to take forward preparation work for designating two more proposed marine parks, including the South Lantau Marine Park and the Marine Park for the Hong Kong International Airport Third Runway System project. It is anticipated that in designating waters of important ecological value as marine parks, the marine habitats of Lantau could be further improved in the long run through active management.