Green school: Hong Kong's largest Environmental Resource Centre has opened in Fanling to help northern New Territories residents go green.

Hong Kong's largest Environmental Resource Centre was opened in Fanling today to provide the public in New Territories North with easy access to environmental information.

It will also provide a venue for schools, community organisations and residents to organise environmental education programmes.

The 400-square-metre centre is the third Environmental Resource Centre in Hong Kong.

Environmental Protection Department Community Relations Officer Mabel Mak said environmentally friendly materials were widely used in fittings, including the white acoustic ceilings, multi-coloured carpet tiles, fabric panels and wallpaper.

She said the furniture - including tables, chairs and sofa - was largely made from recycled materials.

Centre designed to trumpet "green" messages

The centre has an exhibition hall, a lecture room, a library and guided tours.

"The colourful exhibition hall is equipped with display panels, interactive games and models specially designed to disseminate a variety of green messages," Ms Mak said.

It has eight display zones featuring:

* air quality;

* waste reduction;

* water resources protection;

* environmental planning and assessment;

* noise issues;

* enforcement work;

* global environmental matters; and

* community education.

Called the "Green Wisdom Library", the library contains books, magazines, leaflets, and teaching kits on environmental protection.

The library has panels displaying photographs from Dr Rebecca Lee. Visitors can appreciate the beauty of the Arctic, Antarctic and Mount Everest through the photo display, Ms Mak noted.

The centre also features a mosaic mural, four metres wide and two metres high, in the reception area. The Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival's project artist Jamie Burroughs

led 15 student environmental-protection ambassadors who made use of recyclables to produce the mural. It features a sustainable ecosystem and urban living environment.

The lecture room, equipped with audio-visual aids, can accommodate about 80 people. It is suitable for holding workshops on environmnental topics.

Location, opening hours

The new centre is at 2/F, Government Accommodations, Grand Regentville, Luen Wo Hui, Fanling. It is open 10am-5pm, Monday through Saturday, except Wednesdays when it opens 10am-1pm. It opens from 1pm-5pm on Sunday.

Admission is free. Guided visits and environmental education programmes for schools and community groups are available through advance bookings.

The other two Environmental Resource Centres are in Wan Chai and Tsuen Wan. The Environmental Protection Department also has a mobile Environmental Resource Centre that visits schools and community centres.

Officiating at today's opening ceremony were Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Rita Lau, Environmental Campaign Committee Chairman Ronnie Wong, Environmental Protection Department Director Rob Law and Deputy Director Mike Stokoe, and pop singer Jade Kwan.