Has controversial Lantau 2 Peaks race given the AFCD ammunition to ban trail running?
After clampdown earlier this year, injuries in typhoon conditions were last thing the burgeoning sport needed
Not a big fan of the AFCD. The diligent men of the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department once ‘arrested’ me for having the temerity to try to ride a bicycle up the (10-metre wide, paved) Mount Parker Road on a quiet Tuesday morning when no-one was around.
Struggling up at about 3mph, I was collared. Into the AFCDmobile and back down the hill (their car umpteen times more dangerous and environment-damaging than my bicycle), where the no-cycling sign was pointed out. A court summons arrived some six months later, since an on-the-spot fine wouldn’t have wasted enough of everybody’s time.
And they are to be admired when they spring into action to, for example, return endangered turtles to the ocean – such a case was worthy of one of seven press releases they issued last month. (‘Activity on rabies prevention’; ‘Coastal clean-up day’; ‘Geopark retains global status’; ‘Hikers encouraged to take waste away’; ‘Public urged to observe fire safety’; and ‘A man sentenced for smuggling ivory’, were the others, as if you didn’t already know.)
They likely do a sterling job in all their various duties. But one wonders about the one in which they probably most impact Hongkongers – as country park wardens.
About 40 per cent of Hong Kong’s land mass is country park under AFCD’s auspices. The psychopathic property developers and politicians will likely eventually turn it all into the blighted, post-apocalyptic landscape one sees for hundreds of kilometres on end on the high-speed rail through the Pearl River Delta Urban Wasteland – but until then we can all enjoy the few trails AFCD nature lovers have not concreted over.
READ Hong Kong runners blast Lantau 2 Peaks organiser
Yet one often feels that the AFCD would rather get on with their job of managing the country parks without the pesky interference of people using them.
The city could have a world-class mountain bike trails centre of the sort that have revitalised countryside economies in Scotland, Wales, Canada and beyond, but that would involve effort.
Similarly, a burgeoning trail running scene that has given the city a global reputation was given a hefty blow this year when the AFCD imposed much tighter restrictions on races.
READ Curbs imposed on Hong Kong trail running
Though runners enter at their own risk and many said they thoroughly enjoyed the adventure, race director Michael Maddess of Action Asia Events has been heavily criticised by others for not calling it off, not least because there was a thunderstorm warning in place.
Maddess, who did not seem too concerned in comments to the media on the day, issued an 1100-word damage-control statement on Tuesday, perhaps surprised by the level of criticism the race received.
“I acknowledge and accept the criticism and concerns expressed in certain quarters regarding this decision and I accept full responsibility for the decision to start the race,” he told me in further comments.
“I am as conscientious and detailed a person as you will find. [My] father was a fireman and fire chief, head of rescue training in British Columbia, so from an early age I have been sensitised to and very acutely aware of risk and danger.”
On Friday, the AFCD told me they were looking into the case and that they "[attach] great importance to the conservation of the natural environment, safety of the participants and impacts on other country park users".
Whether that assuages the AFCD, we'll see. For the sake of trailrunning in Hong Kong – and lovers of the country parks in general – let's hope so.
