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He urged members of the community to show support for countryside conservation both by planting trees and taking every precaution to protect the countryside from hill fires.
Noting that the Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) had produced some 800,000 tree seedlings each year for planting in country parks and for use in various Government landscaping projects, Mr Eason stressed that it would be really sad if any of these trees turned out to be damaged by hill fires or vandalism.
"It is everyone's civic responsibility to care for and help conserve our countryside.
"Involvement in tree planting helps people to see and understand more about our countryside environment and reminds us of our obligations to keep it clean, green and healthy," he said.
On the Community Tree Planting Scheme, Mr Eason said it had become a very popular annual event receiving great support from all sectors of the community.
He took the opportunity to thank the Lions Clubs International District 303 and Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) for co-organising this year's scheme and offering publicity support respectively.
Also speaking at the launching ceremony, AFD's Director Dr Lawrence Lee said the scheme, started in 1957, was one of the major conservation education programmes conducted by his department every year.
Last year, more than 26,000 participants took part in the scheme, planting some 34,000 trees.
Dr Lee said that following the launching ceremony, four planting sites in selected country parks would be opened on Sundays and public holidays this month and in April for tree planting by the public.
The four planting sites are at Nam Shan on Lantau, Tai Mo Shan, Tai Mei Tuk and Quarry Bay.