ADVENTURE travel and eco-tourism in Hong Kong?

Anyone reading tourism publicity about the special administrative region (SAR) would hardly consider Hong Kong to be an destination for climbing, kayaking, paragliding, hiking and mountain biking.

However, when a charter group of tourists arrived in China from the wide open spaces of Canada, it discovered that even on Hong Kong Island, beyond its densely packed commercial centre, there are areas of beautiful parkland, perfect for outdoor sports.

According to statistics, approximately 40 per cent of Hong Kong is parkland _ one of the highest ratios of green space to urban area found in the world.

Incredibly, the oldest forest to be found in the SAR is actually on the Island of Hong Kong itself, nestled in a quiet mountain valley high above the frantic city.

When most people refer to "parks," we often think of city parks _ organized, square, flat, and surrounded by urban sprawl; but in Hong Kong this includes the New Territories, Hong Kong Island and the out laying islands, which have a rugged, hilly terrain.

Ideal for hiking, biking and launching parasailers, these hills eventually meet the sea, forming rugged shorelines where sea kayaking, sailing and windsurfing can be enjoyed too.

But because of the huge density of the population, the environment suffers. Local outdoor sports enthusiasts realized this and now tries to remedy it.

A non-profit organization called EcoTaskForce was set up in November 1998, with support from local companies.

The "Made-in-China" approach of the EcoTaskForce involves co-ordinating sports clubs and school groups with the needs of small, local environmental associations.

The EcoTaskForce lets outdoor enthusiasts know where Mother Nature needs their help to heal her wounds and what to do to make things better.

EcoTaskForce groups go out to plant trees or clean the beach to protect the environment for everyone's future benefit.

Like everywhere else, the natural beauty of Hong Kong can only return if everybody is active participants in saving the environment.

Chinese leaders have understood this and are beginning to encourage people to be more active in their relationship with the nature.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndydb/1999/04/d5-1ecot.d17.html