8
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1979
+HOWEVER, LANDSCAPING IS NOT JUST A PROGRAMME FOR MAJOR PARKS,+ MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED. + IT IS A TOTAL PLAN FOR THE WHOLE TOWN -- TREES ALONG STREETS, STREET FURNITURE, AND BANKS PLANTED WITH SHRUBS IN PREFERENCE TO PLASTER AND CONCRETE.+
HE SAID STUDIES SHOWED THAT 1.7 MILLION TREES AND SHRUBS WOULD BE NEEDED EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO CARRY OUT THE PLANS 700,000 SEEDLINGS, 800,000 SHRUBS, MORE THAN 100,000 TREES AND A VARIETY OF OTHER FLORA.
+IT TAKES FOUR TO FIVE-YEARS TO GROW A STURDY TREE AND AT PRESENT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMMERCIAL GROWERS IN HONG KONG AND, AS A RESULT, WE HAVE TO IMPORT MANY TREES AND SHRUBS.
+WE ARE THINKING OF DEVELOPING SOME GOVERNMENT PLANTATIONS, BUT THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR GROWERS TO MAKE USE OF UNUSED LAND, WHICH IS NOW LYING UNUSED, TO SUPPLY THIS FUTURE ENORMOUS NEED.
+THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, TOO, FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A FEELING FOR NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT TO SPECIALISE IN LANDSCAPE STUDIES SO THAT WE EXPAND OUR OWN LOCAL EXPERTISE AND USE OUR OWN SKILLS TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR OWN NEW TOWNS.+
NO BAN ON IMPORT OF LIVESTOCK *****
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THERE IS NO BAN ON THE IMPORT OF LIVESTOCK INTO HONG KONG AS SUGGESTED IN SOME MEDIA LAST (THURSDAY) NIGHT AND TODAY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT CLARIFIED TODAY THAT WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF IMPORTERS AND SHIPPING COMPANIES, THE IMPORT OF LIVESTOCK IS BEING REGULATED DEPENDING ON THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR CATTLE AND PIGS AT GOVERNMENT DEPOTS AND ABATTOIRS.
+IMPORTERS AND SHIPPERS OF OVERSEAS CATTLE AND PIGS HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT DUE TO THE GO-SLOW ACTION BY GOVERNMENT BUTCHERS, THE IMPORT OF SUCH LIVESTOCK WILL BE RESTRICTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
+THIS MEANS THAT ALL IMPORTERS SHOULD CONSULT THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE LOADING ANY LIVESTOCK BOUND FOR HONG KONG FROM THE EXPORTING COUNTRY, HE SAID,