To optimise green opportunities in core city areas, the Government has started a greening programme at prominent locations in Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Hung Hom, Mong Kok and Kwun Tong.

Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Bureau Lo Yiu-ching said the programme will introduce properly designed planting themes and mark up corridors for linking strategic pockets of greened areas to enhance the overall visual quality of the environment.

Green scheme: To optimise green opportunities in core city areas, the Government has started a greening programme at prominent locations in Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Hung Hom, Mong Kok and Kwun Tong.

Different modes of vertical planting at different levels will be adopted with careful selection of species to promote a theme and identity for individual locations.

"Satisfactory progress is being made in implementing the greening programme. Since April, more than seven million plants have been planted," Mr Lo said.

The Government is compiling a register of old and valuable trees on Government land for priority protection. So far more than 900 have been identified for inclusion in the register.

"It is a mandate for all Government projects that no trees should be unnecessarily lopped and felled. Tree felling is the last resort where it is not possible to preserve the trees," Mr Lo said.

In such cases, compensatory planting will be provided as far as possible.

The Greening Standards & Maintenance Manual is being compiled to set out guidelines on species selection, planting design and maintenance requirements.

District councils will be consulted on the greening proposals like the landscape master layout plan and treatment of existing trees on sites, for all capital works projects with related soft landscaping works value exceeding $3 million.

An information pamphlet on greening has been uploaded to the bureau's website.