Park Lights
Views Sought
Eco-tourism is one of the reasons stated by indigenous villagers behind their request for lights on Pak Tam Road in Sai Kung Country Park. They say that hikers have expressed their interest in more lighting in the Park. Other reasons cited were for safety while walking between villages and to light the road for early morning fish deliveries.
However the views of approximately 20 residents of the park at a meeting held with Highways Department (HyD), Agriculture Fish Conservation Department (AFCD) and the district office representatives from Tai Po (Sai Kung North) and Sai Kung were distinctly different. Residents (many who have lived more than 10 years in the park and consider it their home) agreed that lights within village boundaries and at the junction of the village and Pak Tam Road were sensible, however they felt that to turn on the lights recently placed all along the road from Lady Maclehose Village up to Pak Tam Au and the HyD's long range plan to string them further down the hill to Uk Tau would have major environmental impact, ultimately increase the speed of vehicles along the road, and speed the process of development within what should be considered a special conservation area. They also felt that hikers came to the park to see the stars and get away from the glare of urban lighting.
HyD spokesman, Peter Chan, with dignity and patience, acknowledged the issues put forward by the rather undisciplined group, and suggested that all who had strong feelings about the issue at hand should write to him directly. He promised to consider all views when determining the next steps to be taken.
You can contact Peter (and copy the two District Officers) at the addresses below.
District Offices
Sai Kung CHAN Ping Fai, Peter, JP District Officer Sai Kung District Office Home Affairs Department 2/F Sai Kung Government Offices Building 34 Chan Man Street Sai Kung, New Territories Tel: 2163 9488 Fax: 2792 9440 / 2791 5692
Tai Po (for Sai Kung North) POON Tai Ping, Eddie, JP District Officer Tai Po District Office Home Affairs Department Tai Po Government Offices Building 1 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, New Territories Tel: 2654 1238 / 2653 5675 Fax: 2652 1187 |
Highways Department
CHAN King Cheung, Peter Chief Engineer / Lighting Lighting Division Highways Department Cheung Sha Wan Plaza 833 Cheung Sha Wan Road Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon Tel: 2370 4806 Fax: 2310 8489 |