The Hong Kong Biodiversity Festival (HKBF) 2018 will offer more than 100 fun-filled activities from October to December to promote the rich biodiversity of Hong Kong. Its launch ceremony was held at Tamar Park, Admiralty, today (October 6).

     With the support of 48 partners including government departments, universities, community organisations and the public and private sectors, the HKBF public event has again been organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department this year. The theme of the three-month HKBF 2018 is "City within Nature".

     Officiating at the launch ceremony of the HKBF 2018 today, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that as a "city within nature", Hong Kong's urban side co-exists with the natural environment. Biodiversity has been considered during various government projects for urban development, enabling Hong Kong to be a more sustainable and liveable city.
 
     Mr Wong said he hopes the Festival will help enhance public awareness of local biodiversity, and members of the public can also appreciate the natural ecology in urban areas.
 
     The AFCD will hold a number of guided eco-tours on projects under different government departments from October to December. These facilities support the sustainable development of the city and, in parallel, conserve the nearby ecology and protect biodiversity. They include green premises, slopes and vegetation projects, and heritage sites. Participants will be able to appreciate how various types of urban premises and projects integrate with nature, and understand that city life and nature are closely linked.
 
     Apart from a film appreciation activity held at Tamar Park this afternoon, the HKBF 2018 features the Mr. B Adventure Truck, which enables the public to learn more about living with nature in the busy urban city of Hong Kong through games. The Mr. B Adventure Truck will meet the public in different places in Hong Kong from October to December. Furthermore, to promote biodiversity and foster a sense of nature appreciation, a series of fun-filled activities including workshops, exhibitions, seminars, training, volunteer programmes and family days will also be held during the HKBF 2018. Members of the public are invited to join.
 
     For event details, please visit the event webpage (hkbf.afcd.gov.hk) and the "Mr. B Nature Classroom" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hkbf.hk).

Ends/Saturday, October 6, 2018
Issued at HKT 11:35

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