OREANDA-NEWS. February 26, 2013. To encourage local citizens to learn more about Hong Kong’s hidden eco-heritage treasures, HK Electric and The Conservancy Association (CA) jointly organised the city’s first-ever “Green Hong Kong Green” Eco-tour Festival at Aberdeen Country Park.

The whole-day event featured eco-tours, game booths, workshops, talks and performances all aimed to promote local ecology and history.

Also launched today were eight eco-heritage routes on Hong Kong and Lamma Islands developed under the programme, as well as the results of an on-line voting campaign – “My Favourite Eight Eco-Heritage Spots in Hong Kong” – held earlier on, in which Hong Kong citizens were invited to vote for their favourite top eight out of 24 eco-heritage spots.

The top eight are “Tai Tam Stone Bridges”, “Aberdeen Upper Reservoir”, and “Short-legged Toad” on Hong Kong Island, plus “Symphony of the Pond”, “Lamma Winds”, “Mudflats”, “Mudskipper” and “Boat House” in Lamma. Tai Tam Stone Bridges came out on top with the most votes.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, HK Electric’s Managing Director Mr. Wan Chi-tin said, “The success of the project is the result of our joint effort with the CA in the past eight years.

Measuring 30 kilometres in total, the eight routes systematically showcase Hong Kong’s eco-heritage treasures, allowing local citizens to learn in a fun and enjoyable way, while reminding them to protect and preserve these resources.”

“These eight routes contain both ecological and heritage spots, as we see a growing interest among the public in local history,” he added.

Also officiating at the ceremony, Mr. Elvis Au, Assistant Director (Nature Conservation & Infrastructure Planning) of the Environmental Protection Department, was happy to witness the success of the project as a result of close partnerships among the Government, the private and the community sectors. He believed the Festival would help spread the green message of conservation in Hong Kong.

Director of CA, Dr. Hung Wing-tat, said: “As a green organisation, we are keen to promote public education and to nurture the positive and caring attitude towards our ecology. We find the Green HK Green project an excellent platform from which the public can become more actively engaged in the understanding and protection of our natural and historical heritage.”

Education panels are erected enroute and members of the public may sign up with CA for the monthly tours conducted by eco-leaders.

Two eco-tour maps and a “Green HK Green App” featuring the eight eco-heritage routes, their major characteristics and access information have been produced for free. Other useful information, such as weather forecast, detailed route maps and general hiking tips, is also included in the App.

Today’s Eco-tour Festival attracted more than 1,000 people to take part in various activities, including 20 eco-heritage tours conducted on various parts of Hong Kong and Lamma Island; a carnival featuring fun and educational booth games; hands-on workshops where the public can learn how to make traditional snacks; magic performances and singing on stage; and talks on the history of local heritage sites and eco-treasures. There is also a photo competition, where participants are encouraged to upload their pictures onto the campaign Facebook for attractive prizes.

With the formal launch of the eight eco-heritage routes, CA will start offering eco-tours every first and third Sundays from March. Nocturnal tours on Lamma Island will be conducted every first Saturday from April onward. Interested parties can browse CA’s website www.cahk.org.hk, or call 2728 6781 for details, or enroll on-line via the Green Hong Kong Green App.