XN000022-1983-05-05 — Page 12

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1983

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THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE FIFTH REPORT OF THE WORK ING GROUP ON PROVISION OF FACILITIES IN TUEN MUN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, AND PROPOSED INTERIM MEASURES TO SOLVE THE SHORTAGE OF PARKING FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT.

OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF SQUATTER AREAS, PROPOSED TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS, AND REPORTS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND OTHER SUB-COMMITTEES.

SEATS WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE PUBLIC ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST -SERVED BASIS. AND PEOPLE WISHING TO ATTEND SHOULD TELEPHONE THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT AT 0-843801.

+ME] FA+ PROJECT HELPED BY HEAVY RAINS

*****

THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS, WHILE DISMAYING TO FOOTBALLERS AND RACEGOERS, HAVE PROVED TO BE A BOUNTY TO THE ORGANISERS OF LAST YEAR'S 'MÉI FA (BEAUTIFICATION) PLANTING PROJECT.

A CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE WET WEATHER HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH SURVIVAL RATE OF THE MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION TREES, SHRUBS, CLIMBERS AND FLOWERS PLANTED DURING THE MEI-FA PHASE. LESS THAN FIVE PER CENT DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

+A WET WINTER IS PRECISELY WHAT THE YOUNG PLANTS NEED FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR IN THE GROUND, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

DURING THE MEI-FA PHASE, THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD PLANTED 26 500 TREES, 32 000 BAMBOOS, 160 000 SHRUBS, 4 250 CLIMBERS, 76 000 GROUND COVER PLANTS AND 200 000 FLOWERING ANNUALS IN THE URBAN AREAS.

+OF THESE, MOST HAVE SURVIVED AND ARE GOING STRONG,+ HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT DUE TO THE ASSISTANCE GIVEN BY SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT BOARDS, THE ACTUAL NUMBER PLANTED HAD EXCEEDED THE U.C.'S ORIGINAL TARGET BY MORE THAN 50 PER CENT.

THE COUNCIL'S TARGET THIS YEAR IS TO PLANT 30 000 TREES, 165 000 SHRUBS, 8 500 CLIMBERS, 110 000 GROUND COVER PLANTS, 6 000 BAMBOOS AND 220 000 FLOWERING ANNUALS.

THE WET WINTER HAS ALSO HELPED THE U.C. TO GET A HEAD START ON THE 1983 PLANTING SEASON. BY THE END OF MARCH, MORE THAN 123 000 PLANTS HAD ALREADY BEEN PLANTED.

LIKE LAST YEAR, VIRTUALLY ALL THE PLANTS ARE COMING FROM THE U.C.'S 10 NURSERIES.

/+AND WE