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Following is the speech by the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Culture), Miss Choi Suk-kuen, at the Issuing Ceremony of "Miniature Landscapes" Special Stamps today (July 17):

Mr Tsang, distinguished guests and friends from the media,

Good Morning. It is an honour for me to be invited to officiate at the "Lingnan Miniature Landscapes" Special Stamps Issuing Ceremony.

Miniature landscape is a Chinese gardening art in praise of nature. Most of the miniature landscapes consist of natural elements such as hills, water, trees and rocks to bring forth the beauty of nature. Sometimes other features like figures, birds, animals and pavilions would also be incorporated into the design to display the harmonious relationship between nature and mankind. Techniques like the manipulation of scale, context, perspective and contrast are commonly applied in creating miniature landscapes. The charm of these landscapes lies in using the tangible to reflect the infinite wisdom of life. Since the ancient times, Chinese miniature landscapes have taken the fancy of men of letters, as exemplified in their art and literary works.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is committed to beautifying the environment to make city life more enjoyable for the citizens. Planting miniature landscapes is part of our efforts to achieve this goal. Apart from displaying miniature landscapes for public appreciation at our annual Hong Kong Flower Show, we also have numerous miniature landscapes for long term display at some of our parks such as the Lai Chi Kok Park "Lingnan Garden".

This set of stamps issued by the Hongkong Post featuring four different styles of Lingnan miniature landscapes, portrays different scenes with different charms. I sincerely invite you to share with us the beauty and essence of Chinese miniature landscapes now captured and displayed vividly in these stamps, which will add fun to your appreciation of this gardening art, no matter it is for personal collection or postal use.

Thank you.

End/Thursday, July 17, 2003

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