The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced Thursday 12 priority sites under enhanced protection in the government's new conservation policy.

They are the Ramsar Site, Sha Lo Tung, Tai Ho, Fung Yuen, Luk Keng Marsh, Mui Tsz Lam and Mau Ping, Wu Kau Tang, Long Valley andHo Sheung Heung, Deep Bay Wetland outside the Ramsar Site, Cheung Sheung, Yung Shue O and Sham Chung.

According to the policy, the Environment & Conservation Fund Committee has agreed to allocate 5 million HK dollars (641,000 US dollars) to implement management agreement projects, under which non-governmental organizations, like green groups, education institutions and community organizations, can apply for funding from the government to enter into management agreements with landowners.

Under public-private partnership, developments at an agreed scale will be allowed at ecologically less sensitive portions of the sites, provided the developer undertakes to conserve and manage the rest of the site in a long term.

The government will allow six months for submission of proposals from Dec. 1, and will announce the selected pilot projects within six months.

Other measures under the nature conservation policy include enhanced conservation education and publicity, further study of a nature conservation trust.

The Wetland Advisory Committee will also be converted into a nature conservation sub-committee of the Advisory Council on the Environment from Jan. 1, 2005, aiming at beefing up nature protection policy.

Source: Xinhua