Led by HKJC Chief Executive, Mr Lawrence Wong, over 1,200 primary school student representatives pledged to become "Green Children" .

HKJC Chief Executive Mr Lawrence Wong, representatives of Campaign partners, honorary advisors and "Green Children" at the Launch Ceremony.

HKJC Green Child Campaign Launched

13 January 2001

1,200 primary school student representatives pledged to become "Green Children" at "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Green Child Campaign" Launch Ceremony today (13 January) held at Sha Tin Racecourse.

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club Green Child Campaign" is a family environmental protection programme. It aims to encourage primary school students and their families to use fewer plastic bags when they shop at supermarkets; and to foster a better understanding of environmental issues through the students' participation in green extra-curricular activities.

The Campaign has received an overwhelming response from 151 local primary schools with 100,000 students participating. The three largest supermarket chains, Wellcome, ParknShop and China Resources, have been very supportive of the Campaign working together in a first ever retail partnership involving 500 supermarkets.

"We sent out invitation letters to the primary schools in December last year. In just a little over one week after we sent out the letters, we achieved our target of 100,000 primary students registering to participate in the exercise. This is indeed very encouraging. I would like to thank the headmasters, teachers and students for your tremendous support," said Mr. Lawrence Wong, Chief Executive of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, at this morning's ceremony.

Mr. Wong stressed that environmental awareness should start with the younger generation and the Campaign provides opportunities for the children to act to protect the world. Their efforts should prepare the way for future environmental programmes. He hoped that the students will take the lead to act and encourage their parents to use fewer plastic bags.

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club Green Child Campaign" will be conducted in two phases. Phase One of the Campaign, "Use Fewer Plastic Bags" exercise, will start from 13 January and conclude on 10 March. During this period, when the participating students and their parents shop at any Wellcome, ParknShop or China Resources supermarkets, and indicate that they have used fewer or no plastic bags, their receipts will be marked with a "Green Child" stamp. And to encourage these "Green Children" to use fewer plastic bags, the participating students will each be given two specially designed environmental bags, one for themselves and one for their parents.

At the conclusion of Phase One, the marked receipts will be collected and totalled up by the respective primary schools and the students will then proceed to Phase Two. Phase Two will consist of a series of green extra-curricular activities running from April to August. Details of these activities will be announced at a later date.

The pledging was the highlight of today's event. Led by Mr. Wong and witnessed by the guests, over 1,200 student representatives from various primary schools pledged to become "Green Children". Singer Miss Miriam Yeung performed, for the first time, the theme song, "Green Dream", specially composed for this Campaign to spread the environmental message.

In addition to the representatives from China Resources, Wellcome and ParknShop supermarket chains, representatives from various parent and teacher associations; green groups; the Environmental Protection Department; Education Department; Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department; and the media partners were also present at today's ceremony.

(Attachment: List of Hong Kong Jockey Club Green Child Campaign Partners)