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Conservation of Natural

Environment

Hills and mountain ranges of Tai Mo Shan and Kam
Shan in the hinterland form a unique green backdrop
of the New Town, providing both visual relief and
identity. About 1 138 ha (about 35%) of land within
the New Town are zoned "Green Belt" (“GB”) on
the OZPs for keeping the natural backdrop. To the
northeast of the New Town, Shing Mun Reservoir,
which was completed in 1937, supplies fresh water
and its surrounding green hills are home to many
species of butterflies and migratory birds.

Near the New Town, MacLehose Trail Stages 7 and 8
and Lung Mun Country Trail within the Tai Mo Shan
and Shing Mun Country Parks (Figure 37) provide
natural-based leisure destination for residents and
visitors in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung.
Figure 37: MacLehose Trail and Lung Mun Country Trail near
Tsing Yi Nature Trail is also a popular hiking route Tsuen Wan (Courtesy of Hong Kong Toursim Board)
in Tsing Yi. Within a 30-minute walk, it has a
panoramic view of Rambler Channel and Ma Wan
Channel, with Ting Kau Bridge and Tsing Ma Bridge
spanning over.

A population of Hong Kong Croton (Figure 38),
which is endemic to Hong Kong, is found at a
woodland to the southwest of Hong Kong Institute
of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi). To protect
this endemic species, a "Site of Special Scientific
Interest" ("SSSI") zone is designated on Tsing
Yi OZP. It intends to deter human activities or
development within the "SSSI" zone.

Figure 38: Hong Kong Croton at Tsing Yi Site of Special Scientific
Interest (Courtesy of Hong Kong Herbarium)

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