XN000022-1987-04-29 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1987

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TREE PLANTING PERIOD TO BE EXTENDED

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THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXTENDED THE 1987 COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME HELD THIS MONTH TO THE FIRST TWO SUNDAYS IN MAY TO MEET INCREASING PUBLIC REQUESTS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MISSED THE PREVIOUS TREE PLANTING DAYS SHOULD GO TO THE SEVEN DESIGNATED PLANTING SITES ON MAY 3 AND 10 BETWEEN 9 AM AND 4 PM WHEN SEEDLINGS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FREE FOR PLANTING.

THE SEVEN COUNTRY PARK PLANTING SITES ARE AT TAI MO SHAN, BRIDE'S POOL, MUI WO, POKFULAM, QUARRY BAY, PAK TAM CHUNG AND CLEAR WATER BAY.

THE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS), MR K.C. IU, SAID THAT DESPITE INCLEMENT WEATHER ON THE FIRST TWO TREE PLANTING DAYS IN EARLY APRIL, THE MONTH-LONG SCHEME HAD MET WITH OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC.

+SINCE THE LAUNCHING OF THE PROJECT, MORE THAN 15 000 PEOPLE HAVE PLANTED SOME 18 600 TREES.

+THE RESPONSE FROM PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS IS PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING, WHILE SOME 9 000 PARTICIPANTS CAME FROM THESE ORGANISATIONS, ANOTHER 1 500 FROM 30 ORGANISED GROUPS ARE AWAITING THE IR TURNS TO PLANT TREES. AND YET REQUESTS ARE STILL POUR ING

IN,+ HE ADDED.

THIS INTEREST, HE SAID, IS A VIVID REFLECTION OF THE GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN FOR CARING FOR TREES AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

MR IU SAID HE EXPECTED A NEW RECORD FOR THIS YEAR'S SCHEME. LAST YEAR'S TURNOUT WAS 17 000 PEOPLE PLANTING ABOUT 20 000 TREES.

HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A NEW ATTRACTION IN THE CURRENT SCHEME IN THAT AFTER PLANTING A TREE, EACH PARTICIPANT WOULD BE GIVEN A SEED PACKET AND A COLOURFUL LEAFLET FOR RAISING SEEDLINGS AT HOME, FOR PLANTING IN THE 1988 PLANTING SEASON.

+THOSE WHO SUCCEED IN DOING SO WILL BE AWARDED A HANDSOME SOUVENIR,+ HE ADDED.

MR IU URGED ORGANISATIONS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT IN GROUPS TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT'S CONSERVATION EDUCATION UNIT ON 3-7332121 FOR EARLY REGISTRATION.

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