The annual Hong Kong Flower Show extravaganza opened at Victoria Park today (March 15) with some 420 000 flowers on display, including about 40 000 angelonias, this year's theme flower.
Officiating at the opening ceremony were the wife of the Chief Executive, Mrs Janet Lee; the President of the Legislative Council, Mr Andrew Leung; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung; Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Miss Anita Fung; Miss Hong Kong 2023 Hilary Chong; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu.
Under the theme "Floral Joy Around Town", this year the landscape displays along the showground axis take their creative cues from fairy tales. Setting off from the Hing Fat Street entrance, visitors first step into the Journey to the West section through the South Heavenly Gate, where they will find topiaries in the shape of magic weapons wielded by the Monkey King, such as the all-powerful banana leaf fan and the cloud that takes him thousands of miles in one somersault. The resplendent flowers and red lanterns remind one of the fireballs in the Flaming Mountains. Next to it is the Arabian Myths section inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. Visitors marvel at a majestic palace consisting of over 10 000 flowers and plants, losing themselves in its exotic beauty.
Near the Sugar Street entrance are two other landscape displays inspired by fairy tales – The Wizard of Oz as well as Jack and the Beanstalk. The former showcases a rainbow-coloured hill and the mysterious Land of Seven Colours, where visitors are greeted by the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Lion. The latter features giant vines reaching the clouds and hens laying golden eggs – a wonderland of fantasy for visitors to embark on an adventure uniquely their own.
The Jockey Club Student Drawing Competition held today attracted approximately 2 200 children, who enjoyed drawing the flowers and plants. Crowds of visitors also gathered to take photographs of the exhibits such as the horticultural displays, the three-dimensional theme flower wall, flower plots, seas of tulips and the sunflower field.
Meanwhile, the flower show is hosting an online voting campaign called "My Favourite Garden Plot". Voters can choose their favourite from the garden plots of the 18 districts at the flower show, with the chance of winning free air tickets.
This year's flower show has enhanced environmental protection measures, and participating organisations, contractors, volunteers and visitors are encouraged to join hands in creating a "Green Flower Show for All". Waste separation bins and recyclables collection points are available at the showground to collect carton boxes, plastic flower pots, glass bottles, wilted flowers, soil and more. To support environmental protection, visitors are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and green shopping bags.
Additionally, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold a Green Recycling Day after the flower show. Students and volunteers will assist in sorting and collecting recyclables at the showground. Flowers and plants suitable for replanting will be distributed to schools, environmental groups, non-governmental organisations and members of the public.
The flower show is organised by the LCSD. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the flower show for the 12th consecutive year and has been its major sponsor since 2014. The Club's support for the Hong Kong Flower Show, like all its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate employment, tax and charity support for the community.
This year's flower show is one of the events under "Art March" of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. The flower show is running until March 24 from 9am to 9pm daily. For more details of the flower show and its admission fee arrangements, please visit the event webpage (www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2024/index.html) or call the enquiry hotline at 2601 8260.
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