The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said Thursday it will organize free wetland eco-tours for the public from November 2002 to March 2003.

Aimed at enhancing public awareness on conserving wetland, the department made ten routes on Sundays or public holidays which will cover 10 wetlands in the SAR.

A spokesman for AFCD said each location has its highlights such as the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site in Tsim Bei Tsui, reed bed and relic of salt pans in Tai O, mudflat wildlife in To Kwa Peng and Kei Ling Ha, mangroves in Lai Chi Wo and Egretry in Luk Keng.

Experienced tour guides and volunteers who have attended comprehensive eco-tour training organized by AFCD will brief visitors on wetland wildlife and assist throughout the tours, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2002)