1 Go-ahead for dog garden in new Tung Chung park - Residents welcome plans for new 3.8-hectare park with pet facilities
Olga Wong, SCMP, Feb 15, 2008

SCMP GRAPHIC

Dogs in Tung Chung can bark for joy. The government will give them a garden, to be completed in 2010, in response to dog owners' complaints over the lack areas for their pets.

But owners and animal rights representatives are saying one pet park is not enough. They're calling for at least one in each district.

The Islands District Council received a letter yesterday from the Home Affairs Bureau telling it a 3.8-hectare park will be built in a large open space along North Lantau Highway facing the Caribbean Coast residential development. The long-awaited dog park will be one of the recreational facilities included in it.

The project will cost about HK$230 million and construction is expected to start in July.

The plan, part of a paper submitted to the Legislative Council's Finance Committee, had not been included in the project until the Islands District Council passed a motion early this month asking the government to provide a dog park.

The original proposal mentioned a soccer pitch, skateboard course, landscaped garden with a jogging trail and playground, a fitness corner for the elderly and a herb garden.

Islands District Council vice-chairwoman Chau Cheung-heung called the letter "welcome news". She said several areas had been seriously polluted by dog droppings as the number of private residential developments had risen in recent years, and the promenade and the pedestrian paths near Tung Chung Crescent and Caribbean Coast were often in an unhygienic condition.

The council received more than 300 letters from residents, who urged the government to provide a proper space for their dogs to run and relieve themselves. "A dog garden would balance the interests of dog owners and residents who are annoyed by the poor hygiene," Ms Chau said.

The news could signal a new direction for the government. Only six of the city's 1,375 public parks allow dogs, and the only area specially designated for dogs, on the Wan Chai promenade, is temporary: it will close for reclamation in two years.

Rebecca Ngan Yee-ling, spokeswoman for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the Wan Chai dog park had revitalised the long-abandoned promenade and served as a good example for other areas.

"The park area is well-maintained and pedestrians who do not raise pets are also encouraged to walk along the promenade," she said.

Animal Earth officer Cheung Yuen-man said resources should be spent to provide at least one dog park in each of the 18 local districts. "If resources are limited, then perhaps public parks should be opened for dogs at certain hours," she said.

A Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokeswoman said the department was planning four more dog parks - in Jordan, Sheung Shui, Ma On Shan and Sham Tseng.