XN000022-1991-03-17 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 1991

THIS YEAR'S COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD), LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303, HONG KONG AND MACAU, AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS LTD.

MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING LIONS MEMBERS, COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB MEMBERS, JUNIOR POLICE CALL MEMBERS, STUDENTS FROM SEVEN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND TVB ARTISTES TURNED UP FOR THE CEREMONY,

DR WANG NOTED THAT THE SCHEME HAD NOW BECOME AN IMPORTANT ANNUAL EVENT AND ATTRACTED ABOUT 20,000 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR.

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"THIS GREATLY HELPS FOSTER PUBLIC CONCERN ON THE CARE OF TREES AND COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION," HE SAID.

"TREES ARE AMONG THE FEW VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCES IN HONG KONG. THEY PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED FRESH AIR AND HELP BEAUTIFY OUR ENVIRONMENT. THEY STOP SOIL EROSION AND SILTATION OF STREAMS AND RESERVOIRS, AND REHABILITATE AREAS DAMAGED BY FIRE OR DISTURBED BY DEVELOPMENT.

"TREES ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT IN PROVIDING THE REQUIRED HABITAT FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF WILDLIFE IN THE TERRITORY," HE CONTINUED.

HOWEVER, HE SAID IT WAS A GREAT PITY THAT THERE WERE STILL QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF TREES DAMAGED BY HILL FIRE EVERY YEAR.

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"ALL HILL FIRES ARE CAUSED BY HUMAN NEGLIGENCE AND THEY CAN BR PREVENTED IF THE PUBLIC REALISE

THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES AND TAKE CONCERTED EFFORTS IN THEIR CONSERVATION, HE STRESSED.

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DR WANG COMMENDED THE LIONS CLUBS FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIONS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE AND THE SPONSORSHIP OF THIS YEAR'S TREE PLANTING ACTIVITIES.

EARLIER IN HIS WELCOMING SPEECH, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID 400,000 TREES WERE PLANTED BY THE AFD IN COUNTRY PARKS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S AFFORESTATION PROGRAMME.

COMMON TREE SPECIES USED IN AFFORESTATION BRISBANE BOX.

INCLUDE ACACIA AND

'IN RECENT YEARS, OUR TREE NURSERIES HAVE INCREASED THE PRODUCTION OP SEEDLINGS OF NATIVE PLANT SPECIES SUCH AS FISSA CHESTNUT, SWEET GUM AND MACHILUS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE DIVERSITY LOCAL FLORA AND ENRICH OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT," HE SAID.

HE URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD TO DESIGNATED PLANTING SITES ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS BEFORE END OF APRIL TO PLANT TREES IN COUNTRY PARKS WITH THEIR OWN HANDS.

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