THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1986
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RECORD PARTICIPATION IN TREE PLANTING SCHEME
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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME HAS RECEIVED OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION SINCE ITS LAUNCHING LATE LAST MONTH HAS SET A RECORD.
THE SCHEME, HELD FOR THE 30TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 9 600 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 4 000 FROM 82 ORGANISED GROUPS, TO PLANT ABOUT 10 300 TREES IN DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARK PLANTATION AREAS.
THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 43 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR'S RECORD OF 6 700 AND A FIVE FOLD JUMP ON THE 1982 FIGURE OF 1 700.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE VERY GOOD RESPONSE DEMONSTRATED A GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT.
+ IT IS GRATIFYING THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE COME TO REALISE THAT THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN CONSERVING THE COUNTRYSIDE RESOURCES THAT ARE FOR ALL TO ENJOY, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID HE EXPECTED MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PROJECT IN THE REMAINING SUNDAYS IN APRIL WHEN TREE SEEDLINGS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE AT DESIGNATED SITES FOR INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE SIX PLANTING SITES ARE NEAR THE TWISK MANAGEMENT CENTRE IN TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK; CHUEN LUNG IN TAI MO SHAN COUNTRY PARK; PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK MUT WO NEAR THE FERRY PIER POKFULAM COUNTRY PARK NEAR CHI FU FA YUEN; AND A PICNIC SITE NEAR MOUNT BUTLER INSIDE QUARRY BAY COUNTRY PARK.
HE SAID THAT APART FROM INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE FOR ANOTHER 3 500 PEOPLE FROM 70 ORGANISED GROUPS TO PLANT TREES DURING THE PERIOD.
AMONG THOSE TAKING PART ARE STUDENTS OF 35 PRIMARY AND SECONDAY SCHOOLS AND MEMBERS OF THE QUEEN'S GURKHA SIGNAL REGIMENT, JUNIOR POLICE CALL AND COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AS WELL AS VOLUNTARY AND HIKERS' GROUPS.
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