Legislative Council Member Choy So-suk, a devoted hiker and green advocate, urges the public to visit Lamma more using the “Green Lamma Green Eco-tour Map” Officiating guests, Lamma Winds (far right on stage) and other animals on the island launch the newly developed eco-trails. Miss Au King-chi (sixth from left in the back row) presents prizes to student winners of the “Green Lamma Green Eco-challenge Competition Miss Au King-chi (far left) presents prizes to the champion family of the eco-challenge competition. All eco-leaders share the happiness of 12 outstanding eco-leaders who receive certificates from Ms. Anissa Wong (middle in the front row). Officiating guests promote the eco-tour map before starting off for the eco-walk. HK Electric eco-leader explains the ecological characteristics to Ms. Au King-chi (second from left). Looking on is HK Electric’s Director of Operations, Mr. Yuen Sui-see (first from left).

Legislative Council Member Choy So-suk, a devoted hiker and green advocate, urges the public to visit Lamma more using the “Green Lamma Green Eco-tour Map” Officiating guests, Lamma Winds (far right on stage) and other animals on the island launch the newly developed eco-trails. Miss Au King-chi (sixth from left in the back row) presents prizes to student winners of the “Green Lamma Green Eco-challenge Competition Miss Au King-chi (far left) presents prizes to the champion family of the eco-challenge competition. All eco-leaders share the happiness of 12 outstanding eco-leaders who receive certificates from Ms. Anissa Wong (middle in the front row). Officiating guests promote the eco-tour map before starting off for the eco-walk. HK Electric eco-leader explains the ecological characteristics to Ms. Au King-chi (second from left). Looking on is HK Electric’s Director of Operations, Mr. Yuen Sui-see (first from left).

Visitors to Lamma Island can now enjoy more than just hiking and fresh seafood. Three new eco-trails launched today afford hikers the opportunity of espying the Wood Spider, Painted Lady, Little Egret, Fiddler Crab, Mudskipper and other Lamma “residents”.

The trails were developed under a three-year “Green Lamma Green” project jointly organised by HK Electric and the Conservancy Association (CA) to enhance the ecological and educational value of the island and to promote its sustainable development.

Apart from establishing the trails, more than 2,000 seedlings were planted and 20 educational panels installed en- route. A “Green Lamma Green Eco-tour Map” has been published and 60 eco-leaders trained to enhance public understanding of the history, culture, geography and natural environment of Lamma Island.

Today’s launching ceremony was officiated by the Permanent Secretary for the Environment and Director of Environment Protection, Ms. Anissa Wong; Commissioner for Tourism, Miss Au King-chi; Legislative Councillor and Panel Member on Environmental Affairs, the Hon. Choy So-yuk; Director of Engineering, HK Electric, Mr. Wan Chi-tin; and Chief Executive of the Conservancy Association, Ms. Lister Cheung. The ceremony also recognised 12 outstanding eco-leaders who took about 120 citizens on their first eco-tour after the function.

Mr. Wan attributed the project’s success to the close partnership among those involved. He was delighted to note the project’s achievements and hoped they would further enhance the public’s environmental awareness and promote the sustainable development of Lamma Island and Hong Kong as a whole.

Ms. Lister Cheung said promoting sustainable development in Hong Kong has been one of  CA's goals. “Besides our projects in Long Valley, Green Lamma Green is another success story,” she said. “We have not only improved the island’s ecological environment, but also developed its eco-tourism."

“Responding to residents’ request, we have achieved zero hill fire during Ching Ming and Chun Yeung festivals for two consecutive years, saving the invaluable natural ecology. Through this project, CA and HK Electric have increased the cohesiveness of Lamma residents, while encouraging the public to care more about the environment and sustainable development of Lamma Island,” Ms. Cheung added.

The three trails are located in the southern, northern and central part of the island, with different lengths requiring 1.5 hours to 3 hours to walk through. Apart from various living organisms, visitors can find numerous beautiful ecological sights, such as mudflats, coasts and granite formations -- vestige of volcanic eruptions. They can also visit cultural heritage sites such as Tin Hau Temple and Mo Tat School, a school with over 70 years’ history.

HK Electric and CA will organise for the public “Green Lamma Green Eco-walks”, guided by eco-leaders, initially on two Sundays each in June and July and thereafter once a month. Eco-tour maps will be distributed free of charge to all local schools and public libraries. Later this month, the maps will also be available at Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Centres, ferry piers (to Lamma Island), and the Conservancy Association. They may also be downloaded from the CA website (www.cahk.org.hk) and HK Electric website (www.heh.com) from 26 May onwards.

To encourage the public to explore the routes, an eco-challenge competition was held this morning. More than 100 participants from school and family teams found the competition an exciting way to learn about the island’s ecology.

For details or enrolment for eco-walks, please contact the Conservancy Association on 2728-6781 or browse the official website http://www.cahk.org.hk/conser/greenlamma/greenlamma.htm.

The ”Green Lamma Green” project has the full support of various government departments and organisations, including the Tourism Commission, Environment Protection Department, Island District Office, Agriculture, Fisheries and Culture Department, Hong Kong Tourism Board, District Lands Office (Islands), Lamma Island (North & South) Rural Committee, Yu Lai Fan District Councillor’s Office, Northern Lamma School and Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Holdings Ltd.