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The following is the speech (English only) by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, at the Tree Planting Ceremony at the CLP Woodland on Lantau today (Saturday):
Mr Kadoorie, Fellow tree planters,
I'm delighted to join you today for the planting of this new woodland - CLP's gift to Hong Kong for the new millennium.
Planting a forest for the new millennium is a doubly appropriate gift. It is a gesture of hope, something that will grow with Hong Kong in the century ahead, giving benefit to our children, and to theirs. It is also an act of restoration. The early years of the millennium that is closing saw the woodlands that once clothed these hills being cleared away. Restoring the woods will create a place of beauty and enjoyment; will help clean our air; will help sequester the carbon dioxide that man's industry, power generation, commerce, transport and building releases into the air. It is a gift to Hong Kong and an act of responsibility towards our neighbours here and in the global community.
It is a wonderful gift, but a fragile gift, since it is at risk from men's carelessness. This place was swept by fire not long ago. While firebreaks will be made, and watch will be kept, if this wood is to come to maturity change is needed in the minds of men. Grave sweeping is no excuse for tree burning. We all have a responsibility to protect the environment.
On behalf of the people of Hong Kong, I thank CLP for this gift. I thank all of you who have come here today to share in the work of planting, and who have promised to show your care for this place in the years ahead. I pledge that your care will be matched by that of the public service, and I call on everyone to recognize the value that this woodland has for our city. Its planting is a symbol of optimism for the future, of hope that despite all the pressures we face, together we can make a sustaining city for the new millennium.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, officiated at the CLP Woodland inauguration ceremony and Tree Planting Day organised by the CLP Power at Pak Fu Tin in the South Lantau Country Park. Photo shows Mrs Chan planting a tree with the Chairman of CLP Holdings Limited, Mr Michael Kadoorie.
End/Saturday, May 15, 1999
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