Policy Address

114. Some remote rural areas are on the brink of desolation, leading to depletion of their valuable ecological and cultural resources. Apart from the country parks, the Government has adopted a diversified and flexible approach in supporting and promoting the conservation of rural areas through harnessing community efforts in recent years. Lai Chi Wo, for example, has great ecological value and a Hakka “walled-village” culture dating back to over 300 years ago. With the support of local villagers, the Government is actively collaborating with a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to take forward different revitalisation projects and minor improvement works with various funding sources to rejuvenate its ecological, cultural and architectural environment.

115. To further promote the revitalisation of remote rural areas, the Government will establish a preparatory committee to study the ambit and modus operandi of a conservation fund, as well as the legislation and resources required for setting up such a fund. In the process, we will take into account relevant experience in and outside Hong Kong. We will seek to conserve and revitalise the ecology and culture of rural areas based on the sustainability principle, and respond to the aspirations of urban dwellers for urban-rural symbiosis. The fund will also provide an integrated and dedicated mechanism and resources for implementing policy initiatives relating to the conservation of biodiversity in the rural areas.

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