The undated photo shows flourishing flowers growing on residents' balconies in Hongya county of southwest China's Sichuan province.

Employees of public institutions are now required to plant flowers at their homes, triggering heated debate in Hongya county of southwest China's Sichuan province, according to Huaxi Metropolis Newspaper on Thursday.

A notice issued by the county government said that employees working in local state organs and public institutes were required to plant at least two bougainvilleas, on their balconies or in their courtyards, or they would be reprimanded publicly.

"It is an important part of the greening work this autumn," an unnamed official who works for the local Forestry Bureau explains. "When all the residential buildings in the county are decorated by the beautiful flowers, it will definitely benefit the county to be the most attractive tourism destination."

Another insider disclosed that the autumn greening work started in early September, and this new move became an additional requirement after a further investigation, which found the bougainvillea, a beautiful triangle-shaped pink flower, has a long-lasting period of blossom and can well serve the function of landscaping.

On October 19th, 30,000 bougainvilleas purchased from Xichang, a large-scale base for flower export in China were handed out and each employee was given two for free.

Bougainvilleas[CRI]

"Did you grow?" quickly became a new greeting in the days that followed. People were also notified that the implementation of the policy would be carefully examined. Another official in charge of the project declared, "the only aim of the examination is to fully implement the policy and realize the goal of building a beautiful tourist city."

However, some people thought it unacceptable that those who refuse to participate will be criticized publicly. A man named Zhang views it as meaningful to push forward urban afforestation and beautification, but says it needs voluntary participation, and not government intervention.

"It is my own business to decide what flowers I plant on my balcony, but now I am compelled to plant, it is really hard to understand," a woman who asked not to be identified said.