XN000022-1985-06-11 — Page 23

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1985

SCENTED GARDENS UNDER PLANNING FOR BLIND

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TO PROVIDE ENJOYMENT FOR THE BLIND THE URBAN COUNCIL IS TO SET ASIDE AREAS WITHIN VICTORIA PARK AND KOWLOON PARK AS SCENTED GARDENS WHERE STRONGLY SCENTED FLOWERS AND TREES WILL BE PLANTED.

THIS WAS STATED BY MR HOWARD YOUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY MR WALTER SULKE AT THE COUNCIL'S OPEN MEETING TODAY.

MR YOUNG SAID THAT AT PRESENT SOME 30 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF STRONGLY SCENTED FLOWERS AND TREES ARE PLANTED IN THE COUNCIL'S VARIOUS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

+HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE QUITE POSSIBLE TO DESIGN AND PLANT UP SMALL GARDENS IN SOME OF OUR PARKS AND SITTING-OUT AREAS WITH AN ASSEMBLAGE OF THESE SPECIES ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT, PERHAPS, BE CALLED SCENTED GARDENS RATHER THAN SPECIAL GARDENS FOR THE BLIND SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO BE ENJOYED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HE SAID.

AS REGARDS LABELLING OF THE PLANTS WITH BRAILLE PLAQUES, MR YOUNG FELT THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD BE REQUIRED ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS SUCH AS THE APPROPRIATE SIZE AND FORMAT, AND ON A LOCATION WHICH CAN BE EASILY REACHED BY THE BLIND.

HE ADDED THAT THE SOCIETIES FOR THE BLIND WILL BE CONSULTED AND, IF FOUND PRACTICABLE, BRAILLE PLAQUES WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE GARDENS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIES.

'SMILE A BIT MORE'

SAYS CHEONG-LEEN

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THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON

CHEONG-LEEN, TODAY CALLED ON HONG KONG PEOPLE TO +SMILE A BIT MORE, GET A BIT MORE ENJOYMENT OUT OF LIFE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MANIFOLD OPPORTUNITIES ON THE CULTURAL AND SPORTING FRONTS.+

SPEAKING AT THE COUNCIL'S MONTHLY OPEN MEETING, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THERE WAS PLENTY TO SMILE ABOUT NOW BECAUSE OUR FORESEEABLE FUTURE WAS ASSURED, THE MARKET WAS UP, THE ECONOMY WAS BOOMING AGAIN AND JOBS WERE PLENTIFUL.

/+ALTHOUGH THE