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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 2) :

Question:

Currently, the hilltops and slopes in many country parks do not have trees growing on them. Without the protection of plants, they are exposed to serious erosion, hence prone to landslips and soil loss, causing visual blights to the country parks. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the total number of trees planted by the authorities in the country parks in the past three years and the expenditure incurred; and

(b) whether the authorities have plans to plant trees in the country parks over the next five years; if so, of the number of trees they intend to plant each year; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) The number of trees planted in the country parks in the past three years by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the expenditure incurred are as follows ¡V

Year 2002 - 899,000 trees (about $9.6 million);

Year 2003 - 880,000 trees (about $10 million); and

Year 2004 - 877,000 trees (about $9 million).

The expenditure incurred depended on the tender prices, availability of corporate sponsorship and the planting locations. In general, 28% of the total area of country parks is covered with trees, 30% with shrubs, and the remaining mainly with grass. The area of slopes not covered with vegetation is small. AFCD will continue to plant trees on these slopes to restore the vegetation destroyed by erosion or hill fires.

(b) Based on the need for tree planting and available resources in each year, AFCD draws up a tree planting scheme to conserve and maintain vegetation in the country parks. We estimate that about 600,000 to 900,000 trees have to be planted annually in the next five years.

Ends/Wednesday, February 2, 2005

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