According to the government records, 21 hill fires occurred and 440 trees were damaged within or adjacent to country parks in 2021-2022. Over a 5 years period from 2017 to 2021, 116 hill fires incidents occurred, resulting in the damage of 21,000 trees within or adjacent to country parks. Hill fire incidents continue to consistently burn our country parks.
During the Chung Yeung Festival, people go up the hill to pay respect and honour their ancestors near cemeteries. However, hill fires often occur during Spring and Autumn Ancestral Worship ceremonies. If we are careless and leave behind flames in the hill after burning joss papers, fires can quickly spread through the country park, destroying our beloved environment, and causing loss of lives in country parks, only charred ashes will remain on our hills and trails.
Let us, together with you who care about the environment, make our impact and promote the idea of ‘No Hill Fire in Chung Yeung’. Let our friends and family not leave any flames behind. Let us not give any opportunity for hill fires to take hold. We are grateful to HK Electric for their continuously support and active promotion of the campaign of “No Hill Fire in Chung Yeung” through offline and online advertisements, including newspapers and social media. Their efforts help educate the public to be cautious about leaving behind flames while sweeping graves and worshiping ancestors, thereby preventing the occurrence of hill fires from happening.
*1 Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Department Annual Report 2021-2022
*2 Research Office of Legislative Council Secretariat, Statistical Highlights, Environmental Affairs , ISSH26/2022
