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RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS
Hong Kong Flower Show
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The Hong Kong Flower Show, an annual region-wide event, is organised for the enjoyment of the public and to promote a green culture in society. Participants range from horticultural associations and floral art clubs both local and from the Mainland
to green groups, District Councils, schools and members of the public. The show has been growing in size and popularity every year. Apart from numerous pleasing landscape displays, artistic floral arrangements and colourful horticultural exhibits, the show provides many other fringe activities. These include talks and seminars, demonstrations, guided tours, musical and cultural performances, photographic and drawing competitions, horticultural workshops and family fun games. In addition, various types of plants and horticultural products are put on sale in a commercial stalls area. More than 110 local and overseas horticultural organisations took part in the 2002 show held in March in Victoria Park, attracting a record attendance of over 540 000 visitors.
Green Hong Kong Campaign
To enhance public awareness of the importance of 'greening' the environment, various community involvement projects and educational activities were organised in 2002. These included the Green Hong Kong Ambassadors Scheme, community planting days, Green Hong Kong Activities Subsidy Scheme, green camps, theme flower shows, horticultural courses and seminars. The Green School Subsidy Scheme was also organised to promote greening initiatives at schools and it attracted the participation of over 660 schools and kindergartens. In addition, nine schools took part in a pilot scheme in September in which students learned how to maintain plants in parks.
Beautification of the North Lantau Highway
In support of the Chief Executive's policy on greening, the LCSD initiated an improvement programme at the North Lantau Highway by planting about 5000 heavy standard flowering trees of four metres in height and 70 millimetres in diameter and 100 000 flowering shrubs, at a cost of $10 million. The programme, which started in February 2001, was completed in October 2002.
The project is intended to provide attractive scenery along the transport route serving the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok, for both residents and tourists. The extensive planting of flowering trees and shrubs has enhanced the highway's appearance.
Summer Youth Programme 'Hong Kong, Our Home Let's Serve and Share', is the theme of the Summer Youth Programme under which a variety of activities are organised every year for children and young people aged from six to 25. The principal project in 2002, 'Around the World in 80 Ways - Hong Kong Challenge', had the objective of encouraging young people to face and overcome difficulties and challenges by adopting a positive attitude, and to live life to its full potential. In addition, community service activities are organised to help young people experience and appreciate human relationships. These activities also help them to gain a better understanding of the community in which they live, and enhance their sense of belonging and responsibility to it.
In 2002, over 17 000 activities were organised, and more than 2.1 million young people took part. The total cost of the activities amounted to over $56 million of