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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE HON. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the theme of my speech today is "The Greening of Hong Kong Campaign amid the Calls for Environmental Protection'.
The Government is now proceeding with its large-scale infrastructure works in order to implement the Metroplan. The Metroplan is a huge package. Apart from building towering skyscrapers and considering urban redevelopment and land use, it should also take into account the ecosystem for the sake of environmental conservation. Ecosystem emphasizes the interaction between the numerous combinations of elements, namely, the interdependence between man and the natural environment, with the aim of achieving harmony between the natural environment and the new buildings, so that the future metro area of Hong Kong can have a healthy, clean, attractive and ideal working environment as well as a quiet living environment. In order that the ecosystem can develop and operate in a balanced manner, conservation and mass planting of trees is required. Therefore, I am of the view that this year the Council should be committed to a large-scale greening campaign to fall in line with the Metroplan, so as to rebuild the fresh and beautiful green belts of Hong Kong, in pursuit of a diversified and profound green culture within our limited space.
Trees have the function of purifying air, thus giving man fresh air. By means of photosynthesis, trees in sunshine can absorb carbon dioxide and produce large quantities of oxygen. To an urban dweller who has lived and been exposed to polluted air in the concrete jungle for a long time, fresh air is a fine condiment on earth. With the rapid development of the city and a growing demand for land, developers keep on reclaiming land and felling trees, resulting in soil erosion and a high risk of landslides. Tree-planting can reinforce slopes, prevent soil erosion and reduce the risk of landslides. It can also beautify the city. By planting trees extensively on highways, roads and slopes, we can enliven the tense and dull atmosphere in the city, bring life to the concrete jungle and drive away the sense of frustration of the urban people. Moreover, a green city can provide urban people with a comfortable and healthy living and working environment, thus helping to enhance workers' productivity and promote economic growth.
In order to convert the city of Hong Kong into a healthy 'reconstituted forest', to green the space between buildings and to beautify the outlook of streets, the Urban Council should give top priority to an extensive tree-planting exercise. It will require the co-ordination and co-operation between the Urban Council and other government departments such as the Highways Department and the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to beautify the city and reinforce slopes by planting trees on highways, roads and slopes in various areas, to identify new locations for planting, to expand the current tree-planting programme on pavements, and furthermore, to actively encourage major businesses to sponsor the tree-planting programme.
Apart from extensive planting of trees, I think that the authorities should instil a 'greening awareness' among the people of Hong Kong so as to make them aware of the importance of growing and caring for plants, whereby spreading the good practice of greening the environment far and wide. Let families and schools unite in action. Let us plant each tree with a real heart and with thousands of real hearts, we can have a forest. The concrete jungle will then turn into a 'green city'. Apart from taking an active and a leading role in planting, the Urban Council should also encourage other organizations, such as district boards, environmentalist groups and community groups, to be more actively involved so as to strengthen community efforts in greening Hong Kong. The promotion of greening awareness depends on publicity. I therefore think that the authorities concerned should launch a large-scale publicity campaign through the mass media and the electronic media. But I think that this is still inadequate. We also have to draw public attention and seek public support through a tree-planting day with 'community involvement'. As you all know, idolatry is so common among our young people today, I think that the authorities concerned should organize major activities in conjunction with the radio and television stations, enlisting the assistance of popular singers, film stars and TV artists, so as to pass on and drive home the messages of 'greening awareness' and 'green living'.
Maybe some people will think that publicity is too costly and that the resources may achieve better results if used for other purposes. I cannot agree to such short-sighted views. Owing to the limited resources it has, the Government certainly cannot give the Green Hong Kong Campaign wide publicity all by itself. Therefore, we must instil 'greening awareness' into the basic units of society, i.e. the mind of every family member. Only thus can we make the campaign more effective and successful. I remembered that during the fund-raising concert for flood victims in Eastern China organized by local film stars, TV artists and singers, we had achieved a lot. All of us have seen their remarkable achievement. Publicity campaign is merely a sort of 'investment' which is similar to Government's enormous funding for its commitment in education. The return for investing in education lies not in the real monetary gains, but in the long-term intangible gain from the production of talents in the community.
In conclusion, I think that the authorities concerned have to introduce as far as possible a series of effective measures to enable the Working Group on the Greening of Hong Kong to thoroughly discharge its duties, namely to devise and implement a master programme for greening Hong Kong, to monitor the progress of the programme, to initiate, study and monitor the educational, publicity and community involvement activities related to the greening programme and to monitor the progress. We should ensure that the Green Hong Kong Campaign gets off to a good start and marks the good beginning of 1993 as the Greening Year. We should start implementing our stated long-term policies, put the work of greening the city into full swing, enhance the beautification, purification and greening of Hong Kong's environment and improve our quality of life. I support the motion.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 82 of 126
141
Page 82 of 126
140
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE HON. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the theme of my speech today is "The Greening of Hong Kong Campaign amid the Calls for Environmental Protection'.
The Government is now proceeding with its large-scale infrastructure works in order to implement the Metroplan. The Metroplan is a hugh package. Apart from building towering skyscrapers and considering urban redevelopment and land use, it should also take into account the ecosystem for the sake of environmental conservation. Ecosystem emphasizes the interaction between the numerous combinations of elements, namely, the interdependence between man and the natural environment, with the aim of achieving harmony between the natural environment and the new buildings, so that the future metroarea of Hong Kong can have a healthy, clean, attractive and ideal working environment as well as a quiet living environment. In order that the ecosystem can develop and operate in a balanced manner, conservation and mass planting of trees is required. Therefore, I am of the view that this year the Council should be committed to a large scale greening campaign to fall in line with the Metroplan, so as to rebuild the fresh and beautiful green belts of Hong Kong, in pursuit of a diversified and profound green culture within our limited space.
Trees have the function of purifying air, thus giving man fresh air. By means of photosynthesis, trees in sunshine can absorb carbon dioxide and produce large quantities of oxygen. To an urban dweller who has lived and been exposed to polluted air in the concrete jungle for a long time, fresh air is a fine condiment on earth. With the rapid development of the city and a growing demand for land, developers keep on reclaiming land and felling trees, resulting in soil erosion and a high risk of landslides. Tree-planting can reinforce slopes, prevent soil erosion and reduce the risk of landslides. It can also beautify the city. By planting trees extensively on highways, roads and slopes, we can enliven the tense and dull atmosphere in the city, bring life to the concrete jungle and drive away the sense of frustration of the urban people. Moreover, a green city can provide urban people with a comfortable and healthy living and working environment, thus helping to enhance workers' productivity and promote economic growth.
In order to convert the city of Hong Kong into a healthy 'reconstituted forest', to green the space between buildings and to beautify the outlook of streets, the Urban Council should give top priority to an extensive tree-planting exercise. It will require the co-ordination and co-operation between the Urban Council and other government departments such as the Highways Department and the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to beautify the city and reinforce slopes by planting trees on highways, roads and slopes in various areas, to identify new locations for planting, to expand the current tree-planting programme on pavements, and furthermore, to actively encourage major business to sponsor the tree-planting programme.
Apart from extensive planting of trees, I think that the authorities should instil a 'greening awareness' among the people of Hong Kong so as to make
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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141
them aware of the importance of growing and caring for plants, whereby spreading the good practice of greening the environment far and wide. Let families and schools unite in action. Let us plant each tree with a real heart and with thousands of real hearts, we can have a forest. The concrete jungle will then turn into a 'green city'. Apart from taking an active and a leading role in planting, the Urban Council should also encourage other organizations, such as district boards, environmentalist groups and community groups, to be more actively involved so as to strengthen community efforts in greening Hong Kong. The promotion of greening awareness depends on publicity. I therefore think that the authorities concerned should launch a large scale publicity campaign through the mass media and the electronic media. But I think that this is still inadequate. We also have to draw public attention and seek public support through a tree-planting day with 'community involvement'. As you all know, idolatry is so common among our young people today, I think that the authorities concerned should organize major activities in conjunction with the radio and television stations, enlisting the assistance of popular singers, film stars and TV artists, so as to pass on and drive home the messages of 'greening awareness' and 'green living'.
Maybe some people will think that publicity is too costly and that the resources may achieve better results if used for other purposes. I cannot agree to such short-sighted views. Owing to the limited resources it has, the Government certainly cannot give the Green Hong Kong Campaign wide publicity all by itself. Therefore, we must instil 'greening awareness' into the basic units of society, i.e. the mind of every family member. Only thus can we make the campaign more effective and successful. I remembered the during the fund-raising concert for flood victims in Eastern China organized by local film stars, TV artists and singers, we had achieved a lot. All of us have seen their remarkable achievement. Publicity campaign is merely a sort of 'investment' which is similar to Government's enormous funding for its commitment in education. The return for investing in education lies not in the real monetary gains, but in the long-term intangible gain from the production of talents in the community.
In conclusion, I think that the authorities concerned have to introduce as far as possible a series of effective measures to enable the Working Group on the Greening of Hong Kong to thoroughly discharge its duties, namely to devise and implement a master programme for greening Hong Kong, to monitor the progress of the programme, to initiate, study and monitor the educational, publicity and community involvement activites related to the greening programme and to monitor the progress. We should ensure that the Green Hong Kong Campaign gets off for a good start and marks the good beginning of 1993 as the Greening Year. We should start implementing our stated long-term policies, put the work of greening the city into full swing, enhance the beautification, purification and greening of Hong Kong's environment and improve our quality of life. I support the motion.
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