Clean-up & Guided Tour: Plastics, War Relics & Mangrove, Sha Tau Kok coast 沙頭角海岸

Dear Sustainability Heroes,

You are invited to a half-day of environmental action organized by a group of concerned citizens. (https://www.facebook.com/astkce/)

The plan involves the clean-up of the garbage, especially styrofoam 發泡膠, trapped among the coastal mangroves 紅樹林 of Wu Shek Kok Village 烏石角村 in Sha Tau Kok 沙頭角. Sha Tau Kok is a district in north-east New Territories very close to the border with mainland China. It was a restricted area closed to the public until recently.

In the clean-up process, we can once again realize that the indiscriminate use of plastic products in recent decades has led to disastrous consequences that will most likely last for hundreds of years. The only solution is a drastic change of our consumer behaviour to stop the production of plastics and other pollutants at their sources.

In addition to the clean-up effort, there will be a brief introduction on the ecology of the area, e.g. the critically endangered Aquilaria malaccensis (agarwood 土沉香).

In Hong Kong, there are 8 true mangrove 真紅樹 species. (https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_wet/con_wet_man/con_wet_man_local/con_wet_man_local_true.html)
You can find at least 2 species there - Kandelia obovata 秋茄樹 (別名「水筆仔」) and Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco 桐花樹 (別名「蠟燭果」), both with viviparous droppers. In addition, you can find many associate mangrove 類紅樹 species, together with other fauna and flora usually found near mangroves.

There are also examples of the local culture, such as a Tin Hau temple. Last time, the chairwoman of the village committee 村長 wanted us to send a representative into the temple to offer some incense to the goddess prior to the clean-up of the deity's domain! (https://www.scmp.com/culture/article/1937807/why-hong-kong-makes-such-big-deal-sea-goddess-tin-haus-birthday ;
http://www.asiaatsea.com/tin-hau-chinese-goddess-of-the-sea/).

The organizer, who is a local resident, will also show us some war relics, supposedly left behind by the Japanese, near the top of a small hill (80m high) in the vicinity.

Getting to the clean-up site, Wu Shek Kok Village, requires a bus trip to Shek Chung Au 石涌凹 and a short walk of about 600 m along the coast.

For the optional visit of the war relics, you have to climb some poorly maintained steps and slightly overgrown trail leading to the top of the 80 m hill. But this should not pose a problem for well-prepared and physically healthy adults or youths wearing shoes or hiking boots with good grip. The reward is that at the top of this hill, you can have a panoramic view of Starling Inlet and a large area inside mainland China, in addition to the war relics.

After 1-2 hours of clean-up work and the optional climb up the small hill (not necessarily in this order), we will take the garbage to the collection point on the main road, where you can catch a bus back to Fanling MTR.

Meeting point:
Fanling MTR Station, Exit A at Maxim's Bakery, at 9 am sharp.

End time and place:
1 pm, at the bus stop outside Wu Shek Kok Village.
(1 pm is approximate only. Our organizer has the habit of telling us all he knows about each topic, and this frequently leads to overrun. Be prepared :) )

What to bring/wear:

• Closed shoes/hiking boots with good grip.
>Good grip is needed as it may be wet and slippery near the water.
>Closed shoes is needed as sharp objects, syringes and other medical waste may likely be found.
>For this reason, children below 13 years old should not join.

• Water (at least 2 litres is recommended)

• Hat/umbrella, and shades/sunscreen, if sunny weather is forecast

• Rain gear, if rain is forecast

• Optional: insect repellent, soap or hand-wash, apron, snack to keep you going

We will provide trash bags and a limited number of work gloves. You are encouraged to bring your own plastic bags that you no longer need, work/rubber gloves and implements such as tongs and trowels.

If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to post them below.