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The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) has planted about 1,400 trees and 230,000 shrubs in Southern District under the Greening Master Plan (GMP) initiative since the commencement of the works in December 2009.
Officiating at a planting ceremony today (May 25) for the greening works in Southern District, the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Hon Chi-keung, said that, in addition to Southern District, the department is currently implementing greening works in Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Western District and Eastern District. He expected that they would all be completed by mid-2011.
"With the completion of all the greening works in the urban areas, we will have planted more than 19,000 trees and 4.3 million shrubs under the GMP initiative, and the urban environment will be significantly improved. In view of the general support of the relevant District Councils and the public for the urban GMP initiative, the Government will extend the initiative to cover the New Territories. Two consultancy studies on greening works in the New Territories have commenced this month," Mr Hon said.
The GMP provides an overall greening framework for an area by identifying suitable locations for planting, using appropriate themes and species to achieve a coherent and sustainable effect. The Government established an inter-departmental GMP Committee in August 2004 to oversee the development and implementation of the GMP in urban districts. The first phase, covering greening works in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, was completed in 2007. The second phase, covering greening works in Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, was completed in 2009. Phase 3 covers the remaining urban areas, namely Kwun Tong, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin, Sham Shui Po, Western District, Southern District and Eastern District, to be completed by mid-2011.
Mr Hon thanked Southern District Council, district organisations and the local community for their advice and support during the project's design and implementation. He also thanked the residents for their understanding regarding any inconvenience caused by the works.
The event was attended by Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), Mrs Jessie Ting; Chairman of Southern District Council, Ms Mar Yuet-har; Southern District Officer, Mr Wong Yin-fun; Southern District Council members, GMP Committee members and representatives of local community and relevant government departments.
Ends/Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:33
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