Hong Kong Hosts More Than ¼ Of All Marine Species Recorded In

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                 DEAN Professor M Evans FACULTY SECRETARY Mrs A O M Tsang  FACULTY OF SCIENCE THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 香港大學 理學院 Press Invitation   Media Briefing Hong Kong hosts more than ¼ of all marine species recorded in China－HK’s first comprehensive study on marine biodiversity reveals December 22, 2016 Hong Kong is best known as a bustling harbour, a financial centre and a shoppers' paradise, with a dense burgeoning population of seven million impacting its natural environment. Yet, a recent study by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) published in Biodiversity and Conservation have revealed a record of 5,943 marine species in Hong Kong waters! The Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) of HKU has conducted the first comprehensive review of local marine biodiversity. The study shows that with only ~0.03% of China’s total marine area, Hong Kong already accounts for ~26% of the total marine species recorded in the country. Hong Kong also contributes to more than 30% of the species records for several groups of organisms in the South China Sea. This study contributes to the knowledge gap of marine biodiversity in the Southeast Asia. The study is also very timely in the light of the implementation of Hong Kong’s first Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) by the Hong Kong Government in which biodiversity assessment is a crucial initial step to better conserve our biodiversity. In addition, to establish a platform for the international scientific community to access the marine species in Hong Kong for conservation, research and education purposes, the research team, in collaboration with international experts, has also launched Asia’s first Register of Marine Species. Prof Gray A. Williams and Dr Terence Ng Pun-tung from the SWIMS will meet the media to elaborate the research finding and introduce the Hong Kong Register of Marine Species database. Media can also take this opportunity to visit the SWIMS which is seldom open to the public. Details of the media briefing are as below: Date: December 29, 2016 (next Thursday) Time/Activity/Venue: 1:00p.m. HKU shuttle bus to pick up reporters taking public transport at Shau Kei Wan MTR station B1 exit to Cape d’Aguilar (Map 1) (Contact person: Ms Julie Chu, Mobile phone number 6347 2221) 1:40p.m. For those media which will drive to SWIMS at Cape d’Aguilar, please gather at the main entrance of the Swire Institute of Marine Science (Map 2) (Contact person: Ms Rhea Leung, Mobile phone number 9022 7446) 1:40p.m. All media to gather at SWIMS, Cape d’Aguilar 1:50p.m. Photo taking (outdoor session) on seashore at Cape d’ Aguilar 2:10p.m. Photo taking (indoor session) and press briefing at Conference Room, SWIMS (Map 2) **Sandwiches and drinks will be provided. 3:10p.m. End of press briefing Spokespersons: Professor Gray A. Williams, Director, Ｔhe Swire Institute of Marine Science; Professor, School of Biological Sciences, HKU Dr Terence Ng Pun-tung, Postdoctoral Fellow, the Swire Institute of Marine Science; Honorary Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, HKU Media enquiry: Communication and Public Affairs Office Ms Rhea Leung (Tel: 2857 8555/ 9022 7446; email: [email protected]) or Ms Julie Chu (Tel: 2859 2737/ 6347 2221; email: [email protected]); Faculty of Science Ms Cindy Chan (Tel: 3917 5286/ 6703 0212; email: [email protected]) Pokfulam Road Tel: (852) 3917 2683 Fax: (852) 2858 4620 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.hku.hk/science