XN000022-1983-04-12 — Page 6

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1983

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10 000 YOUNG TREES FOR PUBLIC PLANTING

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SOME 10 000 YOUNG TREES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PLANTING BY THE PUBLIC INSIDE SIX COUNTRY PARKS IN HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (APRIL 17) DURING A COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING DAY ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.

THE SIX LOCATIONS WHERE THE TREES WILL BE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FOR PLANTING ARE NEAR THE RESERVOIR BARRIER INSIDE THE POKFULAM COUNTRY PARK ON HONG KONG ISLAND; NEAR THE NAM SHAN CAMP SITE INSIDE THE LANTAU SOUTH COUNTRY PARK ON LANTAU ISLAND; NEAR THE TAI AU MUN CAR PARK INSIDE THE CLEAR WATER BAY COUNTRY PARK; NEAR THE PAK TAM CHUNG CAR PARK INSIDE THE SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK AT BRIDE'S POOL IN THE PLOVER COVE COUNTRY PARK, AND NEAR THE ROUTE TWISK MANAGEMENT CENTRE INSIDE THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE MASS PLANTING ON SUNDAY WILL HIGHLIGHT A THREE-DAY EFFORT ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO START OFF THIS YEAR'S TREE PLANTING PROGRAMME.

ON THAT DAY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY VISIT THE COUNTRY PARKS AND COLLECT THE TREES FOR PLANTING INSIDE THE PARKS. ADVICE ON HOW TO PLANT THE TREES PROPERLY WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FROM COUNTRY PARKS STAFF.

THE TREES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM ON SUNDAY.

TO START OFF THE PROGRAMME, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN WILL OFFICIATE AT A SPECIAL CEREMONY ON FRIDAY (APRIL 15) WHEN HE WILL LEAD A PARTY OF GUESTS, COMPRISING LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS, COUNTRY PARKS BOARD MEMBERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND LEADERS OF ORGANISED GROUPS, IN PLANTING THE FIRST TREES FOR 1983.

THE CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 2.30 PM, AT A SITE NEAR THE MANAGEMENT CENTRE OF THE ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARK ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

ON SATURDAY, ABOUT 400 MEMBERS OF ORGANISED GROUPS, INCLUDING THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL, THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND OTHER SCHOOLS, WILL BE PLANTING TREES IN THE SIX COUNTRY PARKS.

THE FIRST COMMUNITY TREE-PLANTING DAY ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WAS HELD IN SHING MUN IN 1957. THE EVENT WAS THEN HELD EVERY YEAR UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE 1970'S.

IT WAS REVIVED LAST YEAR WHEN THE DEPARTMENT MADE AVAILABLE YOUNG TREES FOR PLANTING INSIDE SIX COUNTRY PARKS.

NOTE TO EDITORS.

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE COMMUNITY TREE-PLANTING SCHEME OPENING CREMONY ON FRIDAY (APRIL 15). AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTME! TRANSPORT TAKING MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CEREMONY AT THE ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARK, WILL LEAVE QUEEN'S PIER IN CENTRAL AT 1.35 PM.