The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority: 

The living environment of public housing estates will be enhanced continually through environmental improvement programmes by the Housing Authority to meet tenants' rising aspirations, the Director of Housing, Mr Fung Tung, said today (Saturday). 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 1995 Housing Authority Flower Show, Mr Fung said the Authority was committed to improving through different means the living conditions in public housing estates, so that tenants could enjoy a healthy environment and pleasant surroundings. He added that greening projects were an integral part of these estate improvement programmes. 

Noting that tenament building alone could no longer cope with the escalating demands of tenants, Mr Fung said modern estates were so designed, to provide all ancillary commercial and service facilities for the entire community. 

"Certainly, aesthetic landscaping is an inseparable part of the design," he said. 

Mr Fung noted that since 1978, the Authority had employed a team of professional landscaping architects to take charge of the design of landscaping works in public housing estates, and a horticulture unit was set up in 1984 to provide technical support to estate management staff in maintaining and improving these facilities.

The Authority manages some 220 hectares of landscaped areas in 155 housing estates. Environmental greening projects are being conducted in estates, both new and old. Last year, 310 trees and 8,200 shrubs were planted, while 21 improvement projects were carried out to restore the degenerated soft landscapes in older estates. 

"By sharing with the public the joyous smiles of blossoms in this festive season, we hope that the flower show can help strengthen tenants' sense of belonging and enhance their awareness of environmental protection in estates," Mr Fung said. 

Running till December 26 at the podium of Lok Fu Shopping Centre II, the Hong Kong Housing Authority Flower Show features a glorious riot of bloom.

On display are over 80 species of seasonal flowers and foliage that make up a total of over 10,000 exhibits. There is also a collection of some 2,000 varieties of chrysanthemum nurtured by the horticulture unit at the department's plant nurseries in Siu Lek Yuen.

Note to Editors: A photograph taken at the opening ceremony will be available at GIS later this afternoon. End
Saturday, December 16,1995