Hong Kong and Incheon, Korea are set to join forces in conserving migratory waterbirds as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two places took effect today.

Signed by Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Dr Leung Siu-fai, and Director General of the Environment Bureau of the Incheon Metropolitan City Government Baig Hyeon, the pact would establish the Sister Flyway Network Sites Arrangement between Mai Po Inner Deep Bay in Hong Kong and Songdo Tidal Flat in Incheon.

The two sites are important coastal feeding and roosting grounds for threatened waterbirds that migrate along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway annually.

By establishing the arrangement, Hong Kong and Incheon will collaborate in promoting conservation of these wetlands and migratory waterbirds, especially Black-faced Spoonbills, which have been recorded in both sites.

They will also co-operate in information exchanges, capacity building, enhancing public awareness on conservation and initiating collaboration with relevant authorities and organisations. 

Assistant Director of Agricultural, Fisheries & Conservation Simon Chan will attend the Songdo Urban Waterfowl Wetland Development Conference in Korea tomorrow to share experiences on wetland conservation and management.