Background
Located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong, the site of Hong Kong Wetland Park was originally intended to be an ecological mitigation area (EMA) to compensate for the wetlands lost due to Tin Shui Wai New Town development.
- ● 1998
the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (now renamed as Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, AFCD) and the Hong Kong Tourists Association (now renamed as Hong Kong Tourism Board, HKTB) commissioned an "International Wetland Park and Visitor Centre Feasibility Study" on expanding the EMA to a world-class wetland ecotourism attraction. The study concluded that it was feasible to develop a Wetland Park at the EMA without compromising its intended ecological mitigation functions. The development of the Wetland Park will also enhance the ecological function of the EMA to a world-class conservation, education and tourism facility.
- ● 2006
The Wetland Park was opened to the public on 20 May 2006.The Wetland Park project has then been designated by the Administration as one of the Millennium projects.
The 61-hectare Hong Kong Wetland Park demonstrates the diversity of the Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem and highlights the need to conserve them. It presents an opportunity to provide an education and recreation venue with a theme on the functions and values of wetlands for use by local residents and overseas visitors.
Mission and Objective
The mission of the Hong Kong Wetland Park is to foster public awareness, knowledge and understanding of the inherent values of wetlands throughout the East Asian region and beyond, and to marshal public support and action for wetland conservation. The Hong Kong Wetland Park will also be a world-class ecotourism facility to serve both local residents and overseas tourists.
To provide a facility that will both complement and supplement those offered at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve
To serve the recreational needs of local residents
To demonstrate the diversity of Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem and highlight the need to conserve them
To provide opportunities for education and public awareness
To create a visitor attraction of international status, catering both for the general public and visitors, and also for those with special interest in wildlife and ecology
To provide an attraction which will diversify visitor experience in Hong Kong for overseas visitors
Overview
The Hong Kong Wetland Park comprises a 10,000m2 visitor centre and a 60-hectare Wetland Reserve. The Visitor Centre has themed exhibition galleries, theatre, souvenir shop and indoor play area. The themed exhibition galleries showcase the importance of wetland on biodiversity, civilisation and conservation.
The Wetland Reserve is constructed wetlands of habitats specially designed for waterbirds. The Wetland Discovery Centre located in the Wetland Reserve allows visitors to encounter a vast diversity of wetland creatures. Other facilities including Stream Walk, Succession Walk, Mangrove Boardwalk and three Bird Hides lead visitors to venture in different habitats.
Hong Kong Wetland Park has received various local and international awards on architecture and landscape design granted by professional organisations including the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Institute of Landscape Architects of the United Kingdom, and the Urban Land Use Institute of USA. In 2013, the Park was voted by members of the general public of Hong Kong as one of the Ten Hong Kong People Engineering Wonders in the 21st Century.
In 2023, the Hong Kong Wetland Park attracted about 410,000 visitors, including over 8,100 tourists. During the year, the Park organised about 2,500 guided tours and programmes with around 53, 000 participants.
410,000 visitors
8,100 tourists
2,500 guided tours & programmes
53,000 participants
The management team of the Hong Kong Wetland Park has six sections to implement various specialized duties and has established visitors codes with a view to providing quality services to visitors. For details, please refer to the following organization chart.
