八成三市民支持南生圍保育
環圍呼籲政府著手研究保育方案
今年三月南生圍的蘆葦床起火，南生圍的保育狀況及威脅再度受到關注。環保團體創建香港、綠色和平、綠色力量、長春社、香港觀鳥會及香港地球之友早前委託香港大學民意研究計劃進行全港性抽樣問卷調查，成功訪問一千零三名市民有關南生圍保育的意見。
民調指當中八成三的市民支持保育南生圍的自然景觀；六成一的市民支持根據法例向土地業權人收地、或以非原址換地等方式，長遠保育南生圍的自然環境。長春社公共事務經理吳希文指從民調中清晰可見，市民希望保育南生圍毋庸置疑，民調結果亦顯示有不少聲音支持政府出手保育南生圍，過往政府在新自然保育政策下認為不少保育方案並不切實可行，然而新自然保育政策自2004年推行至今已超過十年，政府宜再檢討當中各保育方案。
香港觀鳥會高級保育主任胡明川又指南生圍有獨特的生態及景觀，在2004年被加入新自然保育政策須優先加強保育地點清單之中，其重要性不比清單中的其他項目低。南生圍毗連具國際保育地位的米埔內后海灣拉姆薩爾濕地，亦位於「濕地保育區」內，是后海灣濕地生態系統不可劃割的一部分。南生圍的生態環境豐富，有魚塘、泥灘、潮澗帶等，其大片的蘆葦床更是全港數一數二。這為不少具保育價值的雀鳥及野生動物提供覓食及棲息地，包括全球瀕危的黑臉琵鷺、受區域關注的中華攀雀、受本地關注的黃葦鳽，以及全球近危的歐亞水獺。該區魚塘旁邊的樹木也是冬候鳥普通鸕鷀在后海灣地區重要的晚棲地。因此，南生圍的生態環境及必須要被保育。
兩位立法會議員鄺俊宇及朱凱廸亦分別指出南生圍的公眾價值，面對破壞，政府不應坐視不理。南生圍鄰近元朗市中心，除了擁有具高生態及保育價值的生境，南生圍也是不少電影及電視劇的取景地方，假日時亦吸引不少遊人前來踩單車、野餐、郊遊等，是受市民喜愛的鄉郊休閒地點。近十年來已有七次火災，然而未有一人被捕，再加上發展項目的威脅，不禁令人懷疑政府是否故意縱容環境破壞。
綠色力量總監鄭睦奇博士表示民調中見出市民對於收回南生圍、或以非原址換地等長遠保育方案並不抗拒，甚至支持，政府應著力研究南生圍的長遠保育方案。短期內，政府亦應出招以防南生圍再被火燒和各種破壞威脅，制訂管理協議令現時的生境得以被保護和管理，讓市民和下一代都可以享受這片自然環境。
問卷調查結果:
https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/english/report/nsw_2018/index.html
83% Citizens support Nam Sang Wai Conservation
Green Groups call for Government Conservation Proposal
In March of this year, the reed beds in Nanshangwai caught fire, and the state of conservation and threats in Namshangwai give rise to concerns again. A number of green groups Designing Hong Kong, Greenpeace, Green Power, The Conservancy Association (CA), Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) and Friends of the Earth (HK) entrusted the Public Opinion Program of the University of Hong Kong (HKU POP) to conduct public opinion survey on the conservation of Nam Seng Wai and successfully interviewed 1,300 citizens.
According to the poll result, 83% of citizens supported the conservation of the natural landscape in Nam Sang Wai. 61% of citizens support land resumption from landlord with reference to law and the non-in-situ exchange etc, in hopes of continuously protect and conserve the natural environment of Nam Seng Wai. Mr. Hei Man Ng, the Campaign Manager of CA, pointed out that citizen’s determination on conserving Nam Seng Wai is undoubted based on the poll’s result. It also showed that Hong Kong government should put effort on conserving Nam Seng Wai from the public’s perspective. He further supplemented that the conservation measures under the New Nature Conservation Policy are no longer practical as the policy has been implemented since 2004. Government should review the conservation measures under the policy again.
Ms. Ming Chuan Woo, the senior conservation officer in HKBWS, stated that Nam Sang Wai has its unique ecology and natural landscape. Nam Sang Wai has been listed as one of the priority sites for enhanced conservation under the New Nature Conservation Policy since 2004. Its importance is at similar level of other priority site. Moreover, Nam Sang Wai is adjacent to the Ramsar Site, which is well-known in the world, and inside the Conservation Area. It is an important part of the Deep Bay Wetland Ecosystem that cannot be separated.
She pointed out that there is a rich ecological environment in Nam Sang Wai, including fish ponds, mudflats and tidal belts. Its large reed beds are one of the best in Hong Kong. This provides forage and habitat for many conservative species of birds and wildlife, including the globally endangered Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Penduline Tit that are of regional concern, Yellow Bittern that are of local concern, and Eurasian Otter. The trees next to the fish ponds in this area are also important habitats for common migratory birds Great Cormorant in the Deep Bay area. Therefore, the ecological environment in Nam Sang Wai must be conserved.
Mr. Chun Yu Kwong and Mr. Hoi Dick Chu, the two legislators, also pointed out the recreational value of Nam Sang Wai among general public. The government should take action to confront the land destruction. Nam Sang Wai is close to the Yuen Long Town Hall. Apart from having a high ecological and conservation value, Nam Sang Wai is also a location for many movies and TV dramas production. It attracts many tourists to cycle, relax and have picnic during holidays. It is a very popular rural leisure spot. In the past ten years, there have been seven fires. However, no one has been arrested. Couple with the private development threats, it is suspicious that the government intentionally indulge the destructive behavior.
Dr. Luk Ki Cheng, the director of the Green Power, said that the citizens are not reluctant to, or even support, the land resumption or the non-in-situ exchange etc as long-term measures in Nam Sang Wai Conservation. The government should make efforts in studying the long-term conservation program of Nam Sang Wai. In the short term, the Government should also take measures to prevent the fire and various threats of destruction, and formulate a management agreement so that the existing habitat can be protected and managed. Meanwhile, public and the next generation can enjoy this natural environment
Poll result:
https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/english/report/nsw_2018/index.html
