Green team: Director of Civil Engineering & Development John Chai plants trees with students at Route 8's community planting day.

Director of Civil Engineering & Development John Chai says the Greening Master Plans have been well-received and may be extended to Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay next year.

The department formulates Greening Master Plans in densely populated areas and implements greening works. Pilot greening schemes in Tsim Sha Tsui were completed last year and further projects there and in Central will be completed next year.

Speaking at a community planting today, Mr Chai said environmental protection and enhancement concepts have been incorporated in the planning and design of infrastructural projects.

For example, when building Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and its approaches, the department devised enhancement works, including the planting of 60,000 trees and 180,000 shrubs and flowers. To minimise the visual impact caused by the works, greening works have been maximised by planting creepers in retaining walls.

He said the roof of the full enclosure for the Sha Tin Heights Approaches has been turned into a landscaped deck that can mitigate noise impact and enhance the environment, blending engineering works with environmental protection and landscaping.

Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Approaches form a major part of Route 8's Cheung Sha Wan-Sha Tin Section. When completed next year, travel time from Sha Tin to Cheung Sha Wan will be cut to 10 minutes.

Apart from greening mitigation measures, Mr Chai said soil erosion control planting and greening has also been conducted. Last year the department planted over 180,000 seedlings of trees and shrubs for soil erosion control. Landscape treatment was also given to upgraded slopes.