The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Hong Kong Garden at the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 in Xian today (May 26).
Designed and built by the Architectural Services Department under the theme "Hong Kong Style and Flavour", the 716-square-metre Hong Kong Garden features seven species of trees and 31 species of shrub from Hong Kong and southern China. The garden's design showcases Hong Kong's beautiful scenery in an environmentally friendly way.
Mrs Lam received a briefing from the department's officers on the design and attractions of Hong Kong Garden during her visit. The centrepiece of the pavilion is a six-metre, tree-like architectural design, "Tree-ZE", comprising 360 mini-windmills that generate electricity to pump water from a pond at its base to the top of its pergola. The water then cascades down the plants coiling around the pergola and back into the pond.
The International Horticultural Exposition 2011, themed "Eternal peace and harmony between nature and mankind, nurturing the future earth - a city for nature, co-existing in peace", has a site area of 418 hectares. A total of 105 cities and organisations from China and abroad are participating in the expo, which will run until October 22.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam visited some well-preserved historical buildings and structures in the ancient city of Xian to learn more about the city's efforts in heritage conservation. She toured Xian City Wall, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower.
Mrs Lam will take the high-speed train to Luoyang tomorrow (May 27) where she will attend the 2011 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum.
Ends/Thursday, May 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:25