Golden Hill Country Park or Kam Shan Country Park ( Chinese : 金山郊野公園 ; Jyutping : gam1 saan1 gaau1 je5 gung1 jyun4 ), also known in Hong Kong as Monkey Hill ( Chinese : 馬騮山 ; Jyutping : maa5 lau1 saan1 ), established on 24 June 1977, is a country park located in the ranges north of Kowloon , Hong Kong. It covers an area of 3.37 square kilometres (1.30 sq mi). Most of the area is covered by the Kowloon Group of Reservoirs . Inside the park, there are jogging trails, barbecue and picnic areas, which are easily accessible from Tai Po Road (Piper's Hill) via waterworks access roads. The park takes its name from the 369 metres (1,211 ft) peak, Golden Hill or Kam Shan ( 金山 ), which is the highest feature in the area.
13-503: Panoramic views can be enjoyed from the slopes of Golden Hill and several places along the western ridge at the park. From these vantage points, the whole length of Smuggler's Ridge , Tai Mo Shan (the highest peak in Hong Kong), Needle Hill , Sha Tin New Town , Lion Rock and Beacon Hill can be seen. The northern part of Kowloon, the western anchorage of the harbour, Stonecutters Island ,
26-559: A warning against eating monkey meat, saying "their meat can contain unknown viruses . It's a myth that it's nutritious." Under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, anyone hunting or willingly disturbing wild animals is liable to a fine of HK$ 100,000 and one year in jail. 22°21′07″N 114°09′13″E / 22.35186°N 114.15353°E / 22.35186; 114.15353 Smuggler%27s Ridge Smugglers' Ridge or Ma Tsz Keng ( Chinese : 孖指徑 )
39-538: Is a famous macaques kingdom in Hong Kong. The macaques are the largest group of mammals in the park. The most significant species occurring here are rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta ) and long-tailed macaque ( Macaca fascicularis ). These monkeys are probably descendants of monkeys released by pet owners in the 1920s, whereas wild macaque groups native to Hong Kong have almost disappeared due to habitat destruction and over-hunting. Apart from monkeys, this Country Park
52-547: Is a hill with a height of 337 metres (1,106 ft) in New Territories , Hong Kong. It is inside Kam Shan Country Park . A part of Shing Mun Tunnels is built underneath this hill. The name Smugglers' Ridge originally referred to a ridge trail on this mountain. Later, this mountain was named after this ridge trail. Stage 6 of the MacLehose Trail goes through this peak. By continuing northwest at distance post W066 on
65-698: Is also a shelter of squirrels and many bird species. There are about 2,100 wild monkeys in Hong Kong, about 1,800 of them in Kam Shan country park. The park also provide habitat for forest animals found in few other parts of Hong Kong. Among these are protected species like the crested goshawk ( Accipiter trivirgatus ). Other birds found in the park include the black-eared kite ( Milvus migrans lineatus ), house swift ( Apus (affinis) nipalensis ), greater coucal ( Centropus s.sinensis ), common kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ), rufous-backed shrike ( Lanius schach ) and common tailorbird ( Orthotomus sutorius ). Since
78-474: The Wilson Trail , instead of the intended route, along a path with sparse woodland, Smuggler's Ridge can be reached. Smuggler's Ridge rises slowly from its start to the south until steeply dropping at its highest point to the north, where it meets MacLehose Trail stage 6 again at Shing Mun Redoubt. Tai Mo Shan , Needle Hill and other Kowloon Hills can be seen from Smuggler's Ridge, along with Kwai Chung to
91-600: The policy bureaux of the Hong Kong Government . It replaced the previous Secretary for Food and Health , and the portfolio with foods transferred to the Secretary for Environment and Ecology . Before that, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food ( Chinese : 衞生福利及食物局局長 ; pinyin : Wèishēng Fúlì Jí Shíwù-jú júzhǎng ) was created as a ministerial position who headed the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau (HWFB). It
104-676: The 1950s, exotic flora species have been progressively introduced to Kam Shan Country Park. These exotic species includes Brisbane box ( Lophostemon confertus ) and eucalyptus species from Australia , and the charming paper-bark tree ( Melaleuca quinquenervia ). The Country Park is very rich in flora, with a great diversity of native and exotic species. Melastoma species, rose myrtle ( Rhodomyrtus tomentosa ), acronychia ( Acronychia pedunculata ), Hong Kong gordonia ( Gordonia axillaris ), fragrant litsea ( Litsea cubeba ), red machilus ( Machilus thunbergii ), pop-gun seed ( Bridelia tomentosa ) and ivy tree ( Heptapleurum heptaphyllum ), and
117-490: The housing estates of Kwai Chung , the container port , the industrial parts of Tsing Yi Island and the town of Tsuen Wan can also be viewed from here. The park is famous for its conservations of macaque monkeys . An area of granite of the Upper Jurassic period (formed between 130 million and 160 million years ago), the rocks are well exposed in road cuttings inside the park. Kam Shan, or Monkey Hill to most locals,
130-462: The ram-rod bamboo ( Pseudosasa hindsii ) are the common varieties in the Country Park. According to park wardens, since 2006 about 38 animal traps have been found in the park. An animal rights volunteer group was formed in 2007 when people discovered illegal hunting activities in the park. Dead monkeys wounded with sharp objects have been found in the park since 2007. On 3 March 2009 a dead monkey
143-483: The west, parts of Shatin to the east, and Cheung Sha Wan to the south. Secretary for Food and Health The Secretary for Health ( Chinese : 醫務衞生局局長 ) is a ministerial position in the Hong Kong Government , who heads the Health Bureau . The current office holder is Lo Chung-mau . The position was created on 1 July 2022, following the reshuffle of the principal officials and reorganisation of
SECTION 10
#1732863209377156-567: Was found with a loop trap around its leg with body stab wounds. According to rights group, 300 wild monkeys were slaughtered for mainland China in May 2009. A man also used a BB gun to shoot the monkeys and shot one of the volunteers. Police arrived at the scene, Food and health chief York Chow Yat-ngok said he stepped up patrols to clear traps. Kwan Chi-yee, president of the Hong Kong Chinese Herbalists Association, issued
169-427: Was replaced by Secretary for Food and Health on 1 July 2007, following the reshuffle of the principal officials and reorganisation of the policy bureaux of the Hong Kong Government . It replaced the previous Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food , and the portfolio with welfare transferred to the Secretary for Labour and Welfare . The SH is a politically appointed position. In other words, its term expires when
#376623