Airport Authority launches exhibition on Western Waters marine conservation

The Airport Authority will hold an exhibition showcasing its marine conservation efforts in the Western Waters at Hong Kong International Airport, starting this Wednesday and continuing until June.

Speaking at the exhibition's kick-off ceremony, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan highlighted the rich marine biodiversity in the city. 

He noted that Hong Kong nurtures over 6,000 marine species, including Chinese white dolphins -- the Grade 1 National Key Protected Species -- and finless porpoises.

Tse pointed out that the government has designated three new marine parks over the past five years, expanding Hong Kong's protected marine habitats by 1.5 times to 8,500 hectares. He added that the North Lantau Marine Park, the largest among them, plays a crucial role in preserving the core habitat of the Chinese white dolphin.

He added that authorities are communicating with the Guangdong Province government to set up a platform to monitor the health and location of the dolphins and deepen cooperation on the preservation effort.

In addition, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan stressed that the authorities have prioritized environmental protection in the development of the airport. 

She noted that the North Lantau Marine Park was officially established when the Three-Runway System was completed last year.

She also mentioned that the Airport Authority has established a conservation fund and placed reefs, oyster reefs, fish fry, and specific marine species in the waters near the artificial island.

(Judy Cui)