Government establishes Expert Group on Conservation for Sha Lo Tung
The Environment and Ecology Bureau today (March 1) announced the establishment of the Expert Group on Conservation for Sha Lo Tung.
Members of the Expert Group are appointed by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, with Professor Lam Kin-che as the convener. The members include experts and scholars from fields of nature conservation or related sectors involved in promoting conservation work, as well as representatives of the relevant government bureau and department. The membership list of the Expert Group is set out in the Annex. The term of appointment is two years, from March 1, 2024, until February 28, 2026.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said that members of the Expert Group possess profound professional knowledge and extensive experience. With their support, the Government can conserve the beautiful ecological environment and biodiversity in Sha Lo Tung in a more comprehensive and sustainable manner, and provide a more fruitful countryside experience and opportunities for ecological research for visitors and scholars from Hong Kong and other regions.
The work of the Expert Group includes assisting the Government in mapping out the long-term strategies for conservation of ecology and biodiversity in Sha Lo Tung, advising the Government on measures to promote scientific research and eco-recreation in Sha Lo Tung, and steering the implementation of conservation studies and projects carried out in Sha Lo Tung.
Sha Lo Tung has very high ecological value, ranking second among the 12 Priority Sites for Enhanced Conservation under the New Nature Conservation Policy. Since 2018, the Government has been implementing ongoing conservation work in Sha Lo Tung through a Nature Conservation Management Agreement project funded under the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme. With the completion of non in-situ land exchange in Sha Lo Tung in July 2022, the Government will take forward further measures to enhance nature conservation in Sha Lo Tung, facilitate scientific research and enable public enjoyment of the precious ecological resources there.