LCQ 4: Territory-wide greening programme
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	Following is a question by the Hon Patrick Lau and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council today (November 17):


Question:

	Will the Government inform this Council whether it has any plans to plant trees and set up pedestrian boulevards in the central areas of the 18 districts of Hong Kong; if so, of the progress made in implementing such plans in these districts, as well as the specific proposals and timetables for fully implementing the relevant plans; if not, the reasons for that?


Reply:

Madam President,

	The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau has set up in December 2002 a high-level Steering Committee on Greening (SCG) to provide supervision and guidance on overall greening strategy, formulate sustainable urban greening schemes, co-ordinate the greening efforts of various departments, gather expert views on greening and explore private sector collaboration in promoting urban greening schemes.  In 2003-04, we planted a total of about 16 million plants along highways and footpaths as well as in gardens, and are planning to plant another 10 million in 2004/05.  We are also working with the private sector to implement various greening schemes, one of which is tentatively scheduled to commence later this year in Central. 

	In order to underscore our priority on enhancing urban greenery, we have formed a Greening Master Plan Committee chaired by the Director of Civil Engineering and Development in August this year under the SCG to co-ordinate planting and streetscape improvement work in selected urban districts.

	We aim to develop greening master plans (GMP) for the key tourist area in Tsim Sha Tsui and the core business area in Central by the end of 2005, whilst exploring the scope for collaboration with private developers and quasi-government bodies, including the Urban Renewal Authority and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, to beautify cityscape in the vicinity of their developments.  We will continue to devise GMPs for other urban districts in the next few years, starting with more densely-populated areas like Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Hunghom, Mong Kok, and Kwun Tong.

	The Government compiles a territory-wide greening programme each year to facilitate planning and monitoring of related progress and outcome.  This programme covers the following aspects:

(a) 	incorporate planting elements into works projects, increase planting along roadside amenity areas and expressways;

(b) 	carry out planting and beautification works at priority urban sites (e.g. key promenades, public housing estates, footbridges and pedestrian zones); 

(c) 	providing vegetation on man-made slopes; and

(d) 	planting tree seedlings in the countryside.

	The Government has been looking into the establishment of pedestrian zones in districts with high commuter flows since 1999 to improve the pedestrian environment.  So far, six full-time and 26 part-time pedestrian zones have been designated in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Jordan, Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Stanley and Sheung Shui.

	Furthermore, we are proposing to convert Kai Chiu Road in Causeway Bay into a full-time pedestrian zone that involves a walkway at grade and the construction of a new subway under Hennessy Road linking the Sogo Department Store and Hennessy Centre.  The Planning Department has already consulted the general public on this proposal over the past few months and is analysing the views so gathered for a final decision.

	The Government will also consult the general public on proposed pedestrian zones in Tsim Sha Tsui by the end of this year and solicit the views of District Council on the greening proposals for Tsim Sha Tsui.

Ends/Wednesday, November 17, 2004
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