The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today held the National Ecology Day launch ceremony and symposium to kick off a series of environmental protection and nature conservation activities and offers.

In his opening speech at the ceremony, Acting Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing highlighted that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to the conservation of Hong Kong's natural ecology.

It is also continuing the enhancement of co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on the nature conservation and environmental protection fronts.

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department and the Planning & Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality signed a co-operative framework agreement on creating an ecological corridor between Wutong Mountain Scenic Area in Shenzhen and Robin's Nest Country Park in Hong Kong at the ceremony.

The scope of co-operation includes cleaning up invasive alien species, conducting ecological baseline surveys, examining enhancement of the ecological corridor for terrestrial animals and exchanging experiences on nature education.

During the symposium, representatives of government and non-governmental organisations, scholars and experts from the Mainland and Hong Kong were invited to exchange views on the work of building an ecological civilisation.

The Hong Kong SAR Government and non-governmental organisations will launch various special activities and offers from today to August 31, including free admission to eco-facilities, free guided eco-tours, night safaris, workshops and seminars.