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Proceedings began aboard an open-top double-decker bus with our Resident Landscape Architect, Gavin Coates, acting as tour guide. En route from Tsim Sha Tsui, Gavin pointed out the successful greening of the median of Nathan Road, the 128 trees that now adorn the Cherry Street Roundabout, and the median and footpath planting along the Sham Mong, Hoi Fai and Lin Cheung Roads.

On arrival at the northern edge of the Yau Ma Tei typhoon shelter, guests admired the transformation of the formerly derelict roadway into a new waterfront promenade with curvilinear sitting walls and colourful groundcover, shrub and tree planting. The GMP team had taken the opportunity to plant some 40,000 shrubs and groundcovers and 96 trees along the waterfront. Notable among the trees are 10 fine 5-7metre tall native Ficus microcarpa細葉榕 (Chinese Banyan), 1 magnificent 7metre native Ficus superba筆管榕 (Superb Fig), some Grevillea banksii紅花銀樺 (Scarlet Grevillea) and 3 Liriodendron chinensis馬褂木 (Chinese Tulip Tree) a veritable rarity in Hong Kong.

Speeches were made by the Director of CEDD Mr. John Chai Sung-veng JP and the Chairman of Yau Tsim Mong District Council Mr Edmond Chung Kong-mo JP.

ACLA’s Director Mr. Tomm Van Dyke joined them along with Deputy Secretary of Development Bureau Mrs. Jessie Ting Yip Yin-mei JP, and Yau Tsim Mong District Officer Mrs. Vinki Kwok Song Wing-ki JP, to add the final symbolic spade loads of soil to the base of a splendid Chinese Banyan, marking the formal completion of the Phase 2 GMP contract under which over 5000 trees and 1,200,000 shrubs and groundcover plants have been planted.

The GMP site team has now turned its attention to the 7 new contracts for the Remaining Urban Areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island which are projected to result in 11,500 trees and 2, 700,000 shrubs and groundcover plants being planted over the next 14 months.