The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department today held a ceremony to kick-start the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark’s 10th anniversary celebration as a member of the Global Geoparks Network since 2011.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary for the Environment KS Wong said in addition to engaging in geo-conservation, the geopark preserves various communities’ history and cultural heritage.

“With the support of the local communities, the department has established story rooms, which are visitor centres, at Ap Chau in 2018, Kat O and Kau Sai Village in 2019, and Lai Chi Wo in 2021.”

Mr Wong pointed out that the geopark has attached great importance to building collaboration with stakeholders, like local communities, non-governmental organisations and relevant government departments, and promoting geopark with them in an innovative way.

As the first event to celebrate the geopark’s 10th anniversary, stakeholders have been invited to join the geopark community seminar to share their thoughts and experience to strengthen connection and collaboration.

The department also announced that it will later introduce two new facilities, the Kat O Heritage Trail and the revamped Lai Chi Wo Geoheritage Centre, to enhance visitors’ experience and further promote local history, cultural and intangible cultural heritage.

Public activities will be rolled out in the next six months that include talks, roving exhibitions and community fairs. Through such activities, the department explained, visitors will learn more about the geopark from various perspectives and experience its unique geological, ecological and cultural features.

Located in northeast New Territories and Sai Kung, the geopark boasts globally rare acidic volcanic hexagonal rock columns, while a series of sedimentary rocks in the northeastern New Territories were formed over a period of 400 million years.

It became a National Geopark of China in 2009 and a member of the Global Geoparks Network in 2011.

With the formalisation of UNESCO’s International Geosciences & Geopark Programme in 2015, it was renamed Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, and is committed to conserving geoheritage, ecological environment, cultural and intangible cultural heritage; developing diversified educational activities and boosting local sustainable development.