XN000022-1992-10-22 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1992

"STRICT PROTECTION WAS INSTITUTED TO STOP ILLEGAL SO THAT TREES COULD REGENERATE NATURALLY, HE SAID,

TT

WOODCUTTING

THE YEAR 1953 SAW THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVE A NEW FORESTRY POLICY ENABLING AFFORESTATION AND AMENITY PLANTING ΤΟ BE STEPPED UP TO PROTECT WATER CATCHMENT AREAS AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, FOREST PLANTATIONS EXPANDED RAPIDLY. MOST OF THE WATER CATCHMENT AREAS AND HILL SLOPES OF THE TERRITORY WERE AFFORESTED. THE MAJOR TREE SPECIES PLANTED WERE ACACIA, BRISBANE BOX AND SLASH PINE.

MR LEUNG SAID THE RAPID INCREASE IN POPULATION IN THE EARLY 1950'S HAD PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ INTRODUCE THE POLICY OF DEVELOPING AND MANAGING THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR CONSERVATION AND RECREATION ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER.

SINCE THE 1970'S, GREATER EMPHASIS HAD BEEN PLACED ON PLANTING FOR NATURE CONSERVATION AND AMENITY PURPOSES.

**MORE INDIGENOUS TREE SPECIES, INCLUDING SCHIMA, MACHILAS AND

OAK, WERE USED IN MASSIVE PLANTING.

"RARE TREES, SUCH AS KOTELEERIA, NATIVE CAMELLIAS AND BALD CYPRESS WERE ALSO PLANTED TO REPLENISH THEIR LIMITED STOCK IN THE WILD, THEREBY HELPING TO IMPROVE THE NATURALNESS AND SPECIES DIVERSITY OF THE PLANTATIONS, HE SAID.

PRIME

SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTRY PARKS IN 1976, THE WOODLANDS AND SCENIC HILLS HAVE ASSUMED A NEW AND IMPORTANT ROLE AS A RECREATIONAL AND RESTING PLACE FOR THE URBAN POPULATION.

"PLANTATION IN COUNTRY PARKS ARE NOW MANAGED FOR THE PURPOSES

OF MAINTAINING THE WATER CATCHMENTS IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION,

PROVIDING RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR URBAN DWELLERS AND OFFERING NATURAL HABITATS FOR NUMEROUS WILD PLANTS AND HE ADDED.

ANIMALS,"

PROMISING FUTURE FOR LEATHER GOODS TRADE

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THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE, MR JOHN TSANG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT HONG KONG'S LEATHER GOODS TRADE HAD AN EXTREMELY GOOD POTENTIAL TO EXPAND FURTHER IN FUTURE YEARS.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FOOTWEAR AND LEATHER GOODS FAIR 1992, HE TOLD AN AUDIENCE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADERS THAT HONG KONG'S LEATHER PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR LEATHER GARMENTS, HAD SUCCESSFULLY PENETRATED OF NEW AND TRADITIONALLY DIFFICULT MARKETS, INCLUDING JAPAN.

A NUMBER

/"AS YOU