HSBC tidies up botanical garden

BOGOR: Some 250 employees of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) cleaned up the Bogor Botanical Garden on Sunday and planted three trees, which are endemic to southern Sumatra and central Sulawesi.

HSBC Indonesia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard McHowat said the event was part of the bank's social program, particularly his company's concern for the environment here.

"Several weeks ago, we also sent some staff to Aceh to help build a school there," said McHowat.

The trees planted on Sunday were aglaia eryptrosperma from southern Sumatra as well as aglaia tomentosa teijsm and aglaia angustifolia from central Sulawesi.

HSBC, which is operating in 79 countries around the world, has allocated some US$250,000 for social programs in Indonesia, excluding its commitment for relief and reconstruction in Aceh.

HSBC launched the five-year "investing in nature" program worth $50 million in 2002, with the aim of conserving the environment. --JP