Plover Cove Country Park   

Plover Cove Reservoir

        Plover Cove ( Shuen Wan Hoi ) , named after the ship "Plover" , was originally an inlet on the northern side of the Tolo Harbour . For centuries it was the home of fishing and farming communities . With the increase in population of Hong Kong , the government envisaged to transform it into a fresh water reservoir . The scheme was to build a dam wall across the mouth of the inlet , pump out the sea and refill it with fresh water .

        Construction of the main wall , two subsidiary walls and a spillway began in 1960 and was completed in 1967 . It then took five months to pump out the sea water , and five more months later the first fresh water finally reached the water supply system . Such was the success of the system that work began almost immediately to raise the dam wall to increase the capacity to 230 000 000 cubic metres , with a surface area of 11.94 Sq. Km at maximum water level .

        Most of the fresh water ( 65% ) comes from indirect catchment through tunnels , which carry water from places such as mainland China . The rest comes from direct catchment . The reservoir has now developed into a fresh water ecosystem , supporting a variety of plant , insect and fish life . Some fish species were introduced , but most established themselves from the streams feeding the reservoir . Fishing at the reservoir is under control ; those who want to go fishing should first get a permit from the Water Supplies Department . The walk round the Plover Cove Reservoir , though rugged in parts , is scenically exciting .

Yan Chau Tong Marine Park

        The Yan Chau Tong ( Double Haven ) Marine Park is situated north of the Plover Cove Country Park  . It comprises two separate parts ; one at Double Haven , the other at Lai Chi Wo . With a total sea area of about 680 hectares , it is designated for the purposes of conversation as well as recreation .

        The area has a wide variety of landforms , such as bays , headlands , peninsula , rock cliffs , sand spits and beaches . In addition , there are fringing coral reefs along the shallow shores . The area is also the spawning and nursery ground of commercially valuable fishes .

        Visitors can take  part in activities such as diving , swimming , canoeing , sailing , or taking underwater photographs . However , they should not hunt or disturb any marine wildlife or do anything harmful to the marine environment .

The Islands

         There are some splendid offshore islands in the north-east . They can be accessed only by ferries from Ma Liu Shui or by private boats . These islands offer some of Hong Kong's most beautiful coastal scenery and are popular with yachtsmen who cruise the area . There are also some decent beaches on these islands , the best being at Ngo Mei Wan on Crescent Islands and Tung Wan on Double Island .

        Crooked Island ( Kat O ) has a small population of old-world fishing community . One may roam around on the island expect for the southern end , which was shut off as Kat O Fisheries Sub-station . One can take a rental  "kaito"  from Sam A Wan to the northern part of the island . There is also a regular "kaito" service taking passengers with border passes from the border town Sha Tau Kok .

        Ping Chau can be reached by ferries . There are picnic and barbecue facilities on the island ; a camp site is also provided near Kang Lau Shek . the island is now virtually uninhabited . Ping Chau is famed for its unusual sedimentary mudstones and siltstones , which are prominent around the coast , lying in tilted and tiered slabs .

Tai Mei Tuk

        There is a boating centre near Tai Mei Tuk . Near the main dam of the Plover Cove Reservoir , there are several boat clubs for sailing , windsurfing and canoeing . The Plover Cove Visitors Centre is also located there , where one can obtain information about all country park facilities .

Wu Kau Tang

         Wu Kau Tang is situated in a beautiful green valley with seven villages around . It was once a stronghold of civilian defensive forces during the second World War  . By the side of the Bride's Pool Road , one can see a memorial monument describing this event . The scenic Wu Kau Tang Country Trail is 2.4km long . It ascends form here to the north , and then descends to join the Bride's Pool Road .

Nam Chung

        Nam Chung is situated on the north of the Pat Sin Leng Country Park , and can be reached by taking the minibus from the Fanling railway station . It covers a fairly vast area , comprising five villages along the Nam Chung River . The Nam Chung Country Trail starts from here going towards Tan Chuk Hang via Lo Lung Tin and Ping Teng Au . It is 5.5km long and takes 2.5 hours to get through .

Pak Hok Lam

        Pak Hok Lam is well known as the breeding ground for egrets and herons . Through situated outside the country park  , it is a designated protection area under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance . The breeding season is from April to September . With binoculars , visitors can have a good view of these birds and their nests on the heavily wooded knoll , right beside the road and the sea .