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More than 1,000 pots of aquatic plants of some 100 species, including Lotus, Water Lily, Giant Water Lily, Trapa, Water Snowflake, are now on display at the Conservatory and the Artificial Lake of Hong Kong Park. Admission is free.
Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Institute of Horticulture (Hong Kong), the 16-day Aquatic Plant Show starts today (June 23) and runs until July 8.
The show offers a rare opportunity for members of the public to appreciate the beauty and ecology of a wide range of aquatic plants at one location, and to enhance their knowledge of aquatic plants. It also helps promote horticulture and green consciousness.
Aquatic plants refer broadly to plants whose growth habits and their living environments are different from that of terrestrial plants and aerial plants. They usually have fresh green petiolated leaves. Most of them are slender herbaceous but some of them do produce beautiful blooms in summer.
Apart from their ornamental and ecological merits, aquatic plants also have significant economic, dietetic and medicinal values.
To enhance public knowledge on aquatic plants, display panels and leaflets on their habits and characteristics, classification, functions and values are available at the show.
To add fun to the show, talks on aquatic plants and greening workshops will also be held in the afternoon on Saturdays, Sundays and public holiday.
Officiating at today's opening ceremony were Legislative Councillors, the Honourable Daniel Lam Wai-keung and Choy So-yuk; the Honorary President of the Institute of Horticulture (Hong Kong), Mr Stephen M.Y. Lee; the Assistant Director (Leisure Services) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Eddy Yau; and Miss Hong Kong 2006, Miss Aimee Chan.
Opening hours of the Aquatic Plant Show 2007 are:
The Conservatory of Hong Kong Park
June 23: 11am to 6pm
June 24 - July 8: 9am to 6pm
The Artificial Lake of Hong Kong Park
June 23 ¡V July 8: 6am to 11pm
For enquiries, please call 2521 5068 or visit the department¡¦s website www.lcsd.gov.hk
Ends/Saturday, June 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:42
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