XN000022-1986-04-25 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1986

THE 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 PARKI MUI WO NEAR THE FERRY PIER POK FU LAM COUNTRY PARK NEAR CHI FU FA YUEN: AND AT A PICNIC SITE NEAR MOUNT BUTLER INSIDE QUARRY BAY COUNTRY PARK.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC SUPPORT HAD MADE THIS YEAR'S TREE PLANTING SCHEME A BIG SUCCESS.

+SINCE ITS LAUNCHING LATE LAST MONTH, MORE THAN 12 200 PEOPLE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PLANTING 14 200 TREES, MORE THAN DOUBLE LAST YEAR'S RECORD OF 7 000 TREES PLANTED BY 6 700 PEOPLE, HE SAID.

AMONG THEM WERE 5 300 PEOPLE IN 100 GROUPS. MOST WERE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY GROUPS AS WELL AS HIKER GROUPS.

+ ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF SEEDLINGS PLANTED SO FAR IS QUITE DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE TREES DAMAGED BY FIRE EARLIER THIS YEAR THE ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION GIVES A POSITIVE INDICATION OF MORE PUBLIC CONCERN FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE ENVIRONMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE RESPONSE FROM PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS WAS PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING. THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED SO MANY REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO EXTEND THE PLANTING PERIOD FOR ORGANISED GROUPS TO EARLY MAY SO AS TO ACCOMMODATE ANOTHER 37 GROUPS OF 3 000 PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.

PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR WOULD PROBABLY EVENTUALLY EXCEED 17 000, HE ADDED.

YOUTH GROUPS GIVEN REMINDER ON GRANTS *****

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED YOUTH GROUPS PLANNING INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS UNDER THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME+ (OYS).

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS AND DETAILED PROJECT PROPOSALS SHOULD REACH THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL WORK OFFICES (YOUTH AND COMMUNITY) BEFORE MAY 15.

THE OYS OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO BROADEN THE IR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE AND TO ACHIEVE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY. IT ENABLES YOUNG PEOPLE TO CARRY OUT PROJECTS WHICH ARE CONDUCIVE TO PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

/MAXIMUM SUBSIDY