Preserving Hong Kong’s Biodiversity: the need for an

The review and the new policy also make no mention of exotic and invasive species, specific protection for endemic species or protection of the marine environment and give no conservation guidance to SAR Government departments.7 Were the policy to be broader, it would have to encompass these and other aspects of conservation and integrate the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity. [...] The development of new towns in previously rural locations such as Tung Chung and Tin Shui Wai and the spread of large infrastructure projects to the outlying islands, 13 however, has resulted in the redistribution of the urban population to the countryside and the urbanisation of previously remote locations. [...] At the same time, improvements in the standard of living have led to a rise in the number of cars on the roads and increasing automobile and human traffic in the countryside. [...] Despite hopes that the implementation of the CBD in Hong Kong would lead to a more comprehensive conservation policy, the EPD and AFCD “have assessed the requirements under the Convention and concluded that no legislative amendments are required for the implementation of the Convention in Hong Kong.” The SAR Government, having decided that its “Nature Conservation Policy and Measures are in line w. [...] The estimated date of implementation of both the CBD and the Protocol is fiscal year 2005/2006.53 Hong Kong is also a signatory to various other conferences and treaties on the protection of endangered species and key habitat areas.54 46 An upgrade of the Ordinance to include a list of endangered species and a requirement that the welfare of these species be considered in all developments has been.