Pokfulam Reservoir & Country Park
NATURE PRESERVATION AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Pokfulam Reservoir is the first reservoir in Hong Kong that was completed in 1863 to provide stable water supply to the City of Victoria. It is one of the earliest large scale infrastructure projects in the early days of colonisation. Pokfulam Reservoir is no longer a major water source of Hong Kong Island nowadays, but it houses six declared monuments recording the early urban development of the colony.
In 1979, a 270-hectare of land encompassing Pokfulam Reservoir was designated as Pokfulam Country Park. It is divided into three hiking trails, namely the Peak Trail, Hong Kong Trail and Pokfulam Native Tree Walk. Along the trails, many different species of plants and animals can be seen. Hikers can also enjoy the spectacular view of Victoria Harbour and the southwestern part of Hong Kong.
Reminders:
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Avoid disturbance to the wildlife habitat at the Country Park. Do not litter or light fire.
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More trails at Pokfulam Country Park are easy to finish.
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More information about hiking routes and safety hints available at: http://hiking.gov.hk/chi/index.htm
Click on the buttons on the map to access point of interests:
Issues
Water Supply in the Early Days of the Colony
Before British rule, most locals used to rely on water from stream and well nearby. With drastic increase in population, especially at the City of Victoria, stable water supply became a pressing problem to the colony. But the colonial government was reluctant to claim responsibility of water supply. In 1860, a British national S.B. Rawling proposed to build a reservoir at Pokfulam – a valley close to the City of Victoria so that water can flow downstream. The governor Sir Hercules Robinson undertook this proposal and began the construction in the same year. Between 1866 and 1871, several extension improvement projects were carried out to increase the capacity to 68 million gallons. The construction of Tai Tam waterworks began in 1873, which delivered water from Tai Tam Reservoirs to the City of Victoria and Mid-Levels. Most public works in the early days of colonisation focused on water supply at the City of Victoria. Other areas need to rely on private water supply. Between 1883 and 1895, Taikoo Sugar Refinery built three reservoirs at the valley of Mount Parker and North Point for its production plant and workers’ dormitories at Quarry Bay. Ironically, sometimes during water shortage, these private reservoirs’ water was shipped from Quarry Bay to the city centre.
Pokfulam Reservoir in the 1950s.
“Preservation vs. Development” of Country Park
Petition against the restoration of the house at No. 27 Lugard Road to a boutique hotel.
Enacted in 1976, the Country Parks Ordinance provides a legal framework for the designation, development and management of country parks and special areas. About 40% of land in Hong Kong is now designated as country parks, and is managed by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). License from Water Supplies Department is required for fishing activities at reservoirs. In recent years, the “preservation vs. development” of country park has been hotly debated. For instance, the redevelopment of Wah Fu Estate would diminish the green belt area at Pokfulam. In 2010, the unauthorised works at Tai Long Sai Wan (at a private land in country park area) raised public concern about countryside preservation, the government then reviewed the assessment process of country park area designation. In the 2015 Policy Address, it attributed the lack of land supply to country park. Is it always difficult to achieve a balance between nature preservation and urban development?
Eco-tourism and Heritage Tourism in Hong Kong
Most reservoirs are located in countryside with high ecological and historical values. The designation of Pokfulam Country Park in 1976, for instance, provides a nice and easily accessible countryside destination for the general public. Wong Nai Chung Reservoir, the third reservoir of Hong Kong that built in 1899, was also transformed into a park for water activity in 1986. With rich history and nature preservation, Hong Kong shows potential in promoting eco-tourism and heritage tourism to overseas visitors. In recent years, Hong Kong Tourism Board has begun to promote eco-tours (e.g., Tai O) and heritage tours (e.g., the Peak Circle Walk).