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More than 200 herbal plant species have been added to the rich collection of the Chinese Medicinal Plant Garden at the Lions Nature Education Centre in Sai Kung, which reopens today (November 5) after a year of renovation.
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said the garden in Tsiu Hang, with a site area of 1,300 square meters and some 550 species of herbal plants, is the largest of its kind in Hong Kong.
Among the collection are plant species that can be used for cooking, such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) and the flowers of Changeable Rose-mallow, and species allegedly able to respond to sound waves - Codariocalyx motorius.
"The garden features a 400-square-metre green house to accommodate the indoor herbal plant display. In addition, there are three outdoor display areas of different themes, including sunny, semi-shaded and wetland," the spokesman said.
In planning the new garden, the AFCD sought advice from renowned botanist Professor Hu Shiu-ying of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Mr Li Ning-hon, Head of the Hong Kong Chinese Medical Research Institute.
The renovation, started in November 2004 and completed last month, aims to strengthen public education on medicinal plants. Design and construction work was undertaken by the Architectural Services Department at a cost of $2 million.
The garden at Tsiu Hang, established in 1991, has been a popular educational venue with a display of 300 species of herbal plants before the renovation. It was converted from an experimental farm dating back to 1987, for which Mr Li Ning-hon had assisted in collecting the species.
Opening hours of the renovated garden are from 9am to 4.30pm every day except Tuesdays.
Ends/Saturday, November 5, 2005
Issued at HKT 11:03
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