Seventh round of Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme approves 10 projects
28.4.2023

The Secretariat of the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme (CCFS) announced today (April 28) that 10 projects involving a total grant of around $44 million have been approved in the latest round of application. The 10 newly approved projects are located in various countryside areas, such as the wetland in Deep Bay area; Kuk Po, Yung Shue Au and Lai Chi Wo in the North East New Territories; Ma On Shan Village in Sha Tin; and Sai Kung. The themes of the approved projects are broad and diversified, including conservation of fishponds and promotion of fishpond culture to enhance the ecological value of fishponds and their attractiveness as the breeding habitat of waterbirds; formulation of an eco-cultural tourism reference guide to introduce innovative tourism concepts for visiting Double Haven; rehabilitation of farm houses and pai lau with distinguishable architectural features to revitalise the traditional countryside environment and village living culture; promotion of village cultural assets through carrying out traditional Chinese festive activities; exploration of the history and evolution of an iron mine village to restore its unique living culture; and development of a countryside conservation education programme for primary school curriculum to raise the awareness of the young generation on countryside conservation and deepen their relevant learning experience. These projects are expected to enhance the ecological conservation management, and bring a positive impact on the revitalisation and restoration of the remote countryside in the long run. Details of the approved projects are available on the CCFS webpage ( www.eeb.gov.hk/en/conservation/ccfs/ccfs_approved_projects.html ). To encourage more conservation and revitalisation projects of various types to be carried out in the remote countryside, in addition to the existing four categories of subsidies, the CCFS will introduce a new project type entitled "Proactive Conservation" upon consultation with the Advisory Committee on Countryside Conservation (ACCC). The new project type will enable the Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) under the Environment and Ecology Bureau to carry out suitable conservation work proactively. Following the established procurement and tender procedures of the Government, the CCO will commission and subsidise local non-profit-making organisations (NPOs) to conduct relevant projects so as to extend the outcome and experience of completed CCFS projects to the wider remote countryside areas, and attract more NPOs interested in undertaking management projects to participate in the CCFS, thereby deepening the sustainable conservation and revitalisation efforts for the remote countryside. Together with the previous six rounds of applications, a total of 43 projects involving a total amount of around $209 million have been approved to support local NPOs' work in promoting conservation and revitalisation of different aspects, such as natural environment/habitats, non-graded built heritage, cultural and historic assets, etc. All CCFS applications are examined and considered by the ACCC chaired by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology. Details of the CCFS are available on the webpage ( www.eeb.gov.hk/en/conservation/ccfs/ccfs_whats_new.html ).