SECTION 4 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES CAPITAL STOCK
4.2 Existing Capital Stock and Trends
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| Terrestrial Habitats of Special Concern |
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| 4.2.1.50 |
In addition to the special habitats described above, a number of Hong Kong habitats have been identified as being of international, regional and local importance for biodiversity. WWF (1999) have identified high biodiversity areas in Hong Kong as the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, Special Areas, Marine Parks and Marine Reserves, Restricted Areas, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) identified by the AFCD for their value to biodiversity. These areas are addressed in Paragraphs 3.2.1.7 - 3.2.1.17 - Land Use and Land Supply. |
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| 4.2.1.51 |
Some areas of ecologically valuable habitat are under threat as a result of potential urban development and/or pollution. Examples are the streams at Tung Chung and Tai Ho on Lantau Island where high species diversity of freshwater fish has been reported, ie 46 and 23 species, respectively (Chong and Dudgeon 1992). More recent information (WWF 1999, (http:// www.wwf.org.hk), downloaded on 6 December 1999) indicates that the Tai Ho Stream has a total of 47 species of freshwater fish and is considered to have the highest diversity of freshwater fish in Hong Kong. It is also the only location where the Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis - a small migratory salmonid), has been recorded in Hong Kong or Guangdong Province (Porcupine! 1993 (Number 5)). |
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| 4.2.1.52 |
Other areas of high terrestrial biodiversity are being identified through ongoing analysis of the HKU Biodiversity Survey data. The results of this analysis will be used to identify gaps in Hong Kong's protected area system in order that recommendations for modifications of the boundaries can be formulated (HKU 1999a). Under the SUSDEV 21 Terrestrial Habitat Mapping and Ranking based on Conservation Value Baseline Survey, habitats possessing high ecological conservation value will be identified and a database of information provided including the size, habitat complexity, naturalness/disturbance, environmental quality, and presence and abundance category of species. These two ongoing efforts will result in identification of additional areas of terrestrial habitat of special concern. |
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| Terrestrial Mammals |
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| 4.2.1.53 |
Little information has been published on Hong Kong's terrestrial mammals. However, some historical information is given in Hills and Phillipps (1981), and other more recent sources such as a 1990-1992 survey of land mammal sightings (Goodyer 1992), information on the ecology of bats (Ades 1994; Ades 1996), records of distribution of large mammals (Reels 1996), fragmented records from the HKU/Kadoorie Farm newsletter "Porcupine!" (eg Lau and Reels 1996), and information from AFCD, has been used to prepare the following discussion of the current status of terrestrial mammals. Larger wild terrestrial mammals are declining in numbers in Hong Kong, mainly because of increased urbanisation. Some of the protected species, including Civet Cats, Leopard Cats and Chinese Porcupines may still be seen occasionally at night in the New Territories. Barking Deer are now rare in Hong Kong but are occasionally heard and seen in wooded areas, and Wild Boar are also occasionally recorded in remote areas. Rhesus Macaques, Long-tailed Macaques and squirrels can be seen in some forest areas (Fellowes 1992a and 1992b; Ho 1992). Smaller mammals such as the Woodland Shrew, House Shrew and bats are fairly numerous in some rural areas. |
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| 4.2.1.54 |
All species of all genera of Chiroptera (bats), Primates (except man), Suriuridae (squirrels), Gerpestes (civets), and Dugong are protected in Hong Kong under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap 170). Other individual mammal species found in Hong Kong including the Chinese Pangolin, Chinese Porcupine, Common Red Fox, Otter, Chinese Ferret Badger, Leopard Cat and Barking Deer are also protected under the Ordinance. Bats are granted additional protection under the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap 476). |
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