An international flower show with the theme of Olympics has attracted over half a million visitors in the Olympic co-host city of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said Tuesday.

The annual flower show at the Victoria Park attracted over 548,000 people during the 11 days starting March 10, an increase of some 21,000 visitors over the previous year, said the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which organized the show.

More than 200 organizations from 21 countries and regions, including the Chinese mainland, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Europe and North America, took part in the show.

The organizers also put on flower designs in the shape of the mascots and logos of the Beijing Olympics, of which Hong Kong is one of the co-host cities.

A series of fringe activities, such as music and dance performances, floral art demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, green talks and fun games, were also held.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said it was distributing the plants in good condition to various gardens and parks managed by the department, schools and charity organizations in a move to promote greening.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2008)