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Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (January 20):
Question:
Since 2000, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has organised the One Person, One Flower Scheme annually with the aim of promoting a green culture among students from kindergartens, primary, secondary and special schools, and cultivating their interest in growing plants and concern for the community. Under the Scheme, each year LCSD chooses one particular species of flower as the theme flower, organises talks on the techniques for growing the theme flower and gives each participating student a seedling of the theme flower for him to plant either at home or in schools. The schools and students concerned may subsequently present the potted plants nurtured by them to nearby centres for the elderly or organisations alike to show care and concern for the community. Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as Periwinkle, is the theme flower for this year's One Person, One Flower Scheme. However, some kindergartens have found that the latex exuding from the broken stem of Periwinkle may cause skin allergy in some students. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has assessed (i) the effectiveness of the One Person, One Flower Scheme since its implementation, and (ii) if the objectives set have been achieved; if it has assessed, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) of the organisations from which LCSD bought the flower seedlings that were distributed to schools in the past five years, and the amount of expenditure incurred;
(3) given that it has been set out in the implementation procedures in the prospectus of this year's One Person, One Flower Scheme that the latex exuding from Periwinkle may cause skin allergy, why LCSD has still chosen that species as the theme flower for this year; and
(4) given that quite a number of parents have relayed to me that because LCSD had for several times chosen non-hardy flowers as the theme flowers for the One Person, One Flower Scheme and distributed the seedlings to students in winter, a large number of these seedlings withered and some parents time and again purchased flowers at their own expense because their children had to submit them as homework, whether LCSD will consider changing its practice to implement the Scheme during the summer holidays; if LCSD will, of the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(1)(i) Since 2001, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has organised the One Person, One Flower Scheme to promote a green culture among students from secondary, primary, and special schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong, to cultivate their interest in growing plants and to develop their concern for the community. The past five years have seen more than 360,000 students from over 1,100 schools participating annually in the Scheme.
The number of schools and students which participated in the Scheme over the past five years are listed in table 1.
(ii) The Scheme has been well received by schools, teachers, parents and students since its inception. LCSD maintains contact with participating schools to understand the implementation progress of the Scheme. Each participating school will submit a report to LCSD upon completion of the project. LCSD will review the Scheme every year to assess its effectiveness and fine-tune the arrangements of the project in the light of applications received, the number of participating schools and students as well as the feedback from the schools. Judging from the number of participating schools and students as well as the views collected, LCSD believes that the objectives set for the Scheme have been achieved.
(2) In sourcing flower seedlings for the Scheme, LCSD engages suppliers through open tendering in accordance with the established procurement procedures of the Department. Suppliers of the seedlings for the Scheme and the expenditure involved in the past five years are listed in table 2.
(3) LCSD prefers species that are suited to the Hong Kong climate and are easy to grow and care for when considering the choice of theme flower for the Scheme each year. Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) has been chosen this year primarily for its diverse colours, ease of growth and care, prolonged flowering period with almost continuous blooming, and low risk of infection by pests and diseases. It is a species highly suitable for beginners. Periwinkle is a common ornamental plant of medicinal value but is not suitable for consumption. While it is not common for contact with the milky latex from the stem of Periwinkle to cause allergic reactions, LCSD has taken the possibility into account by providing participating schools with information on care and points to note. When Periwinkle was the theme flower of the Scheme in 2001, there were no reported cases of allergies caused by contact with the plant.
(4) LCSD tends to choose a different theme flower each year so that participating students may learn to grow and care for various plant species. Where the choice of theme flower is concerned, there are more options from plants that flower in winter and spring. LCSD works out the timetable for the Scheme, having regard to factors such as the flowering period of the chosen plant, the operation of the schools and the arrangements for relevant activities. Every May, schools across Hong Kong are invited in writing to take part in the Scheme. Talks on growing the theme flower are organised in September for participating schools, with leaflets distributed to provide information on growth habits and care as well as points to note. The seedlings are delivered to participating schools in November. Students may then start planting either in school or at home so that the plants will grow in time for the flowering period. Considering that it will be more difficult to distribute information leaflets to students and arrange seminars for them during the summer holidays, LCSD has no plan to alter the implementation timetable for the Scheme at the moment. Nevertheless, the Department will review the arrangements of the Scheme from time to time. LCSD has not received any feedback from participating schools regarding the implementation timetable or any requests for implementing the Scheme during the summer holidays.
In case of report of withered seedlings from participating schools, LCSD will provide the schools with replacement seedlings upon request.
Ends/Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:16
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