The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government named a local trail and a tree planting site, respectively, as the Olympic Trail and the Olympic Green on Friday, three weeks ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

The move corresponded with the theme of green Olympics and could help promote a green lifestyle and environment awareness, Chief Executive Donald Tsang said.

The Olympic heat has recently been building in Hong Kong as the southern Chinese city is to co-host the equestrian events of the Beijing Olympics in August.

The Olympic Green is a tree-planting site at a slope on Lantau Island, which is the largest island in Hong Kong but sparsely populated and green.

The Hong Kong Olympic Trail, also on the island, is about 5.6 km with its highest point at 227 meters. It passes through a number of old villages.

It is "suitable for a family outing and hiking and is also an ideal place for appreciating the natural scenery while learning more about the local culture, and ties in with the concepts of green Olympics," the HKSAR government said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2008)