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INTRODUCTION฀ The sea s an d shore s o f Hon g Kong , locate d o n th e northern ri m of the Sout h Chin a Sea , are home t o a rich variety o f marin e life . A sub-tropica l climate , a varie d geology, proximit y t o th e Pear l Rive r an d th e seasona l influence o f current s i n it s surroundin g sea , combin e t o create a wide diversity of marine habitat s i n a small area . Habitat diversity fosters plant and animal diversity so that an enormous array of marine life exists. Such diversity was until recentl y littl e studie d an d barel y understoo d bu t i s now th e focus of a growing interes t b y local and oversea s marine scientist s and students . It i s a regrettable fact , however , tha t i n it s quest fo r an improve d standar d o f livin g fo r its , now , si x millio n people, Hon g Kong' s societ y ha s neglecte d t o protec t it s sea and shore s from th e insidiou s effects o f pollution tha t have grow n alongsid e development . Shore s hav e bee n reclaimed t o hous e th e growin g populatio n s o that , i t i s estimated, som e 20 % o f th e origina l shorelin e o f Hon g Kong will have been reclaimed by the turn of the century . Inshore and offshore water s have been fished extensively ; some woul d sa y fishe d out . I t is , moreover , a fac t that , virtually untreated , al l o f Hong Kong' s domestic sewage , industrial and agricultural effluents hav e been discharge d into coasta l water s creatin g level s o f pollution tha t ran k among th e wors t anywher e i n th e world . Wit h growin g affluence an d awareness, however, Hong Kong's public has kindled a growing interest in the quality of its life, beyond the home , s o tha t hill s an d beache s ar e no w primar y recreational foci . I n winter , Hon g Kong' s countr y parks , which compris e 40 % of the lan d area , ar e thronged wit h hikers, camper s an d picnickers . I n summer , th e man y gazetted swimmin g beache s ar e packe d wit h sunbather s and swimmers. Pleasure boating, scuba diving, snorkelling and sunbathing ar e fast-growing pastime s and all of the m require clean water. Whether boating or swimming, rubbish detracts from the enjoyment o f the occasion and pollution endangers the health o f the participants . The sam e rules and ethics that have been applied t o Hong Kong' s countr y park s shoul d b e applie d t o th e se a and shore . I n man y area s o f Hon g Kon g thi s woul d no t only b e possibl e bu t als o practicabl e becaus e th e Plove r Cove an d Sa i Kun g Countr y Parks , fo r example , hav e a sea coast as their easter n boundaries an d sinc e habitat is , actually, a continuum ther e i s inescapable common sens e in extendin g th e boundarie s o f som e parks , a t least , t o encompass the shore . Growing environmenta l awarenes s i n Hon g Kon g has, i n th e earl y 1990s , created a climate fo r a necessar y change i n attitud e toward s protection o f our coastal sea s and i n 199 0 whe n th e Report of the Marine Parks and Reserves Working Group of the Country Parks Board wa s produced, th e foundation s wer e lai d fo r progress . O n 8 October 1993 , the Executiv e Counci l o f the Hon g Kon g Government announce d tha t i t would support legislatio n to establis h marin e park s an d reserve s and , throughou t 1994, suc h legislatio n wa s drafte d an d Hon g Kong' s Legistative...

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