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RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
470 827 trees, shrubs, palms, creepers, ground covers and seasonal flowers were planted in parks, playgrounds and roadside amenities.
The council manages four nurseries in Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin and Tai Po. Tung Tze Nursery in Tai Po, which covers four hectares, is the biggest. In 1993, the nurseries together produced 3 741 trees, 179 823 shrubs, 87 329 ground covers, 1120 creepers and 191 976 seasonal flowers.
Among the council's amenities features are its theme gardens. At Hing Fong Road Playground in Kwai Tsing, there is a scented garden, while Fanling Recreation Ground in North District has a hibiscus garden. Residents of Sai Kung can rest in the shade of palms at Sha Tsui Playground Garden. Sheung Chuen Park in Yuen Long is graced with conifers. Roses carpet the garden at Tuen Mun Town Park, while Yuen Long Town Park boasts an azalea garden and Sha Tin Central Park an assorted seasonal flower garden.
In 1993, to promote interest in gardening and educate the public on the importance of keeping Hong Kong green, the Regional Council organised 21 horticultural classes, and conducted 25 guided tours and lectures for visitors at open days at the nurseries as part of a greening scheme. Stickers and bookmarks were produced and distributed to visitors and school children to encourage their awareness of the plants and greenery around them. The message was also broadcast at the Regional Council stall at the Third China National Flower Show held in Beijing in April 1993.
= -Hong Kong Flower Show
Since 1987, the Urban Council and the Regional Council have jointly organised the annual Hong Kong Flower Show. The show has become a major public event popular with professional horticulturists as well as amateur plant-lovers.
The 1993 show, held at the Sha Tin Town Hall and Sha Tin Central Park in March, attracted more than 80 horticultural organisations from 12 countries, and was visited by 300 000 people.
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