Macao residents went out to plant trees, grow flowers and participate in various events aimed to beautify their homeland in the annual "Green Week," which started Saturday.
They were answering a call from the special administrative region (SAR) government -- "To plant one tree, to show your love. "As scheduled, the 22nd Green Week will end on March 22.
High school students were seen pruning trees in downtown parks while pupils were drawing the colorful nature on street enclosures.
On the opening ceremony of the event, authorities from the Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau said that the coming week will remind local residents, especially young students, of the importance of taking care of the existing greenbelts and making Macao even greener.
The event will also include lectures, games, photo exhibitions and photographic competitions.
According to government figures, more than 20 percent of the Macao land is now covered by trees, grass and flowers and in the past decade, green areas were on steady increase.
(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2003)
