back to Home Page | back to main article

Appendix 2 : Terms of Reference for Special Park Committees
  1. OBJECTIVES

    The objective of a Special Park Committee is to assist the Controller in the protection and management of a National Park or Nature Reserve, and to promote public appreciation and enjoyment thereof, as provided under Section 8 (1) of the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998.

  2. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
    1. The Committee shall advise the Controller on the following :
      1. the preparation, amendments and revisions of a management plan for the national park or nature reserve;
      2. the guidelines for the exercising of subsisting rights or privileges within the national park or nature reserve;
      3. regulations limiting the place, time and methods of exercising any subsisting rights or privileges within the national park or nature reserve;
      4. the location, operation and running of the facilities, transport and other systems for visitors to the national park or nature reserve;
      5. any other matters as requested by the Committee or Controller.
    2. The Special Park Committee shall assist the Controller in the protection and management of a National Park or Nature Reserve, and to promote public appreciation and enjoyment thereof, as provided for under Section 8 (1) of the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998.
    3. The Special Park Committee shall only advise the Controller in a manner wholly consistent with the aims of the National Park or Nature Reserve as stated in Section 2 of the Ordinance, and with the management plan for the National Park or Nature Reserve. All actions of the Special Park Committee shall not be prejudicial to the proper care, control and management thereof.
    4. The Special Park Committee shall be responsible for recording the names of individuals of communities who have subsisting rights and privileges in the National Park or Nature Reserve who are fully resident in the area, and use that to advise the Controller on who should be permitted to exercise those rights or privileges in the National Park or Nature Reserve.
    5. The Committee shall promote public appreciation and support for measures to protect and manage the National Park or Nature Reserve, including those form local communities.
    6. The Committee shall request any researchers working in the National Park or Nature Reserve for a copy of their proposal, and may request them to brief the first meeting of the Committee after the commencement of their research, and any subsequent meetings as the Committee may deem necessary on their research.
    7. Committee meetings shall be held at least twice a year.
  3. MEMBERSHIP
    1. The members of the Special Park Committee shall be appointed by the Controller and shall comprise the following :
          One (1) Chairman
          One (1) Deputy Chairman
          One (1) Secretary
          One (1) Treasurer
          A maximum of Eight (8) Ordinary Members.
    2. The Chairman shall be the Park Warden.
    3. The Committee shall comprise Park Officers, Honorary Wild Life Rangers appointed under Section 8(1) of the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, any other persons residing near a National Park or Nature Reserve and such other persons, who in the opinion of the Controller, would be able to assist him in the protection and management of a National Park or Nature Reserve.
    4. Names of the above officers except the Chairman shall be proposed and seconded, and election shall be by a simple majority vote.
    5. Members shall remain in the Committee for the duration of 3 years, after which the Controller may renew the membership or appoint new members.
    6. The controller may, acting on the advice of the Committee, decide to terminate the membership of one or more of its members if :
      1. he has been found guilty of an offence under the National parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998 or Regulations thereunder, or the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 or Rules thereunder, or if he has been found guilty of a criminal offence;
      2. his actions have been detrimental to the aims of the National Park or Nature Reserve, and conservation of wildlife therein.
    7. In the event of a loss of a member of the Committee through resignation, illness, death or termination, the remaining Committee members shall advise the Controller on his replacement.

back to Home Page | back to main article