Hong Kong's one-square-kilometre island, Peng Chau, will be developed into an ecotourism resort with the government's sustainable community fund.

The Council for Sustainable Development yesterday announced that eight projects have been selected in the first round of application, with fund injection totalling about HK$7.75 million .

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the council's education and publicity sub-committee chairperson Christine Fang Meng-sang said, "Those selected projects demonstrate how to integrate the key three aspects of sustainable development- social progress, environmental awareness and economic development - in a practical way."

Some 300,000 people will benefit directly or indirectly from the projects, she said.

The Peng Chau project, proposed by the Green Peng Chau Association, will receive a HK$1.52 million fund.

Named the Green Culture Island Project, it will feature initiatives such as ecotourism, organic farming and a green marketplace. It advocates waste reduction, use of renewable energy, green consumerism and a green lifestyle, said the association's project coordinator Sannie Chan Kit-fong.

"Peng Chau has a long history and it has ancient heritage sites like Tin Hau Temple. Together with rich biodiversity, including marine creatures, birds and plants on the island, it holds great potential for ecotourism

"We have already designed several ecological and heritage trails and tours for urban visitors and tourists. We will train residents and students on the island as tour guides and establish an ecotourism education centre,"she said.

The association is also planning to convert abandoned farms on the island into a community-based organic farm.

"As an initiative to attract visitors to Peng Chau, we will organize a 'Sunday Farmers' programme in which micro-plots are leased to city dwellers as a source of enjoyment and green education. We will also organize a farmers' market that sells organic farming products to generate incomes," she said.

Chan expected the above programmes will be completed within three years.

"Afterwards, we will launch more programmes on the island, such as a waste reduction campaign and renewable energy study. We would commission studies to see if we can use wind or solar energy to generate electricity for residents," she said.

Training school

Also selected was a project proposed by Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School, which will provide training to Tuen Mun primary school students to enable them to become campaign leaders. The organizer will also set up a green network for schools. A life and environmental education centre will also be established.

Under the HK$470,000 project, the school will open workshops to enhance students' knowledge on environmental protection and sustainable development issues, said teacher Sybel Lam.

"After attending those workshops, our students will be responsible for training students at eight primary schools to become environmental leaders.

"Our students will also help design green corners, organic farmland or ecotourism trails for those primary students at their own schools in Tuen Mun. And they will also take part in community services, including a bird census and beach clean-up campaigns," she said.

Fang said a total of 127 projects were received in the first round of application. The second round will start next month.

Grant recipients will have to submit progress and financial reports regularly, Fang said.

"The council will closely monitor the progress of each project," she said.

The Council for Sustainable Development was formed in 2002 to advise government on conservation, pollution and planning. It is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

(HK Edition 05/07/2004 page2)