*********************************************************

Nineteen green volunteers from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and 12 scouts from the Correctional Services Department's (CSD) Cape Collinson Correctional Institution teamed up today (November 16) to contribute their services to the Community Garden Programme in support of the Government's greening campaign.

The services they provided included site clearance of over 100 square metres of land at the Wai Tsui Crescent Community Garden, Wai Tsui Crescent, North Point under the supervision of LCSD and CSD officers.

They also helped in the site formation and decoration of 50 small planting plots of 2.25 square metres each on the cleared site by applying fertilisers. The basic platforms will be ready for use by participants in the coming gardening course under the Community Garden Programme.

Organised by the LCSD, the Community Garden Programme encourages people to participate in greening activities at the community level and make greening part of their daily lives. It also raises public awareness about greening and environmental protection through participating in gardening activities.

Under the guidance of instructors, participants learn how to grow ornamental plants, fruits and vegetables in parks and then take home the harvest.

The previous gardening courses, launched in parks or tree banks in Wong Tai Sin, Tung Chung, North Point and Sham Shui Po respectively since February this year, were well received by the public. The programme will then be extended in phases to other districts in Hong Kong.

The CSD is keen on encouraging inmates, particularly the young ones, to take part in community projects as part of the department's efforts to enhance rehabilitation.

In addition to the Community Garden Programme, uniform groups from the CSD's institutions are taking an active part in greening and support the Government's "Flower Passion Campaign" by nurturing plants.

The inmates at Lai King Training Centre, Cape Collinson Correctional Institution and Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution also nurture about 3,000 plants provided by the LCSD under the "Flower Passion Campaign". The flowering plants will subsequently be distributed to charity organisations.

Ends/Tuesday, November 16, 2004

NNNN