Over 320 volunteers and divers will shuttle through the mysterious but colourful underwater world in the coming three months to conduct health checks for 'residents' - coral reefs. 

They will survey 32 coral sites in waters stretching from Tung Ping Chau in the north to Ninepin Group in the south, including the eastern part of Hong Kong where corals are densely populated.

Underwater world: Corals have high primary productivity and can provide numerous organisms  with abundant food resources. Indicator-species like garoupa will also be one of the targets in the reef check.

In the survey, volunteers and divers will note the coverage and health status of coral reefs.

They will also record the predetermined marine life, known as indicator-species, to assess the diversity and general health of a coral reef ecosystem.

Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Wong Fook-yee said the annual Hong Kong Reef Check, jointly co-ordinated with the Reef Check Foundation since 2000, is part of the global programme to promote sustainable management of coral reefs.

This year's reef check had an overwhelming response from all sectors of the community, with a record-breaking number of participants and survey sites, he added.

Noting that the coral community can provide hiding spaces and shelters for other organisms to settle and grow, the department has been sparing no efforts in raising public awareness of coral-reef conservation.

Apart from organising public education activities for different target groups, guidelines for tourists and divers will be published soon to ensure that Hong Kong's coral community will not be disturbed by their 'visits'.