Hong Kong seeks UN World Heritage status for geological site
Hong Kong, Nov 4 : Hong Kong is hoping to clinch Unesco World Heritage status for a 49-sq km geological site which boasts the high-rise city's most dramatic land and seascapes, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The site, already designated China's 183rd national geo-park, includes one of the world's biggest collection of hexagonal rock columns formed by volcanic activity 140 million years ago.
Government and tourism officials are now planning to promote the park overseas to attract visitors and to seek the World Heritage status from the UN.
There are currently 890 Unesco sites around the world which are preserved for their heritage and natural value. They include the Great Wall of China, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Pyramids of Giza, Victoria Falls in southern Africa and the prehistoric stone monument of Stonehenge in England.
Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the site being designated a geo-park, Chief Executive Donald Tsang called the city's geological resources unique and world-class and vowed to redouble efforts to preserve and promote them to the rest of the world.
"In the future, I hope that when people think about Hong Kong, they will not only admire our skyscrapers and be attracted to our busy shopping areas, but also the unique geological formations and natural beauty of Hong Kong that we proudly present to locals and overseas tourists alike," Tsang said.
Contrary to many people's assumptions, the city of seven million is not all high-rise developments and urban areas. More than 70 percent of its 1,078 sq km area is countryside, much of which is densely foliated and mountainous.
--IANS
Bling Telecom to foray into mobile handset mkt; to launch 25 models
'Domain Name' to be introduced in Indian languages
Rupee depreciates by 21 paise to 46.66/68 per USD
Sensex plunges by 223 points
Silver, Gold tumble
Hindu right-wing outfit activists beat up author
Maoist killed, seven arrested in Chhattisgarh
Mumbai gangster, aide arrested in Lucknow
PM greets nation on Bakr Eid
India backs IAEA vote against Iran, but opposes sanctions
Amritsar official's car fined for jumping red light
Cooperatives should work for financial inclusion of poor: experts
Chhattisgarh school boy killed for Rs.2,000 ransom, locals protest
Hizbul militant killed, Hindu member trapped in gun-battle
ArcelorMittal to pursue steel projects in Orissa, Jharkhand
Four swine flu deaths in Delhi, India toll 566
Maharashtra government admits Maria upset, threatening to quit
India backs IAEA Iran vote, but opposes sanctions
Uttar Pradesh beat Delhi for first win this season
Iran issues threats after IAEA resolution
London charity raises Rs.1.15 crore for 26/11 victims
150,000 visit trade fair last day, Afghanistan gets gold medal
Seventy-year-old mother celebrates daughter's first birthday
President hosts lunch for Jharkhand orphanage children
Indian widow denies selling bravery medal being auctioned in London
ArcelorMittal plans to set up steel plant in Karnataka
International drug racket busted, three nabbed with 15 kg heroin
Tamil Nadu finalises unifom school syallabus
Woman who killed newborn denied bail
India's recovery fragile, says RBI governor
Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child Voted Greatest Guitar Riff
Pete Doherty Party Death Case Resurfaces
Snoop Doggwants To Replace Oprah Winfrey
Dress Drama At Shirley Bassey Show
Vanessa Paradis Grateful For Johnny Depp'S Musical Help
Boy George: 'Prison Helped Me Beat Drugs'
Robbie Williams Engaged
John Travolta Struggles With Wife's Sex Scenes
Michael Palin Turned Down Move To Hollywood
Charlton Heston's Embarrassment Over Baldness