HKSDF Events

Sustainable Hong Kong

Don't miss this great event, timed to coincide with the end of the Council for Sustainable Development consultation period we want to hear a range of views.  Whether you want to meet the executive committee, chat directly with decision makers, or socialize with fellow members - it is your chance to make your voice heard.

Location: Helena May, Central (Garden Road, just opposite the American Consulate)
Date: 10 November 2004
Cost: HK$ 100 (Snack Food provided - A cash bar will be available)
Time: 7.00 pm
Language: English

Speakers:
- Mr Paul Zimmerman - Designing the Harbour District Initiative
- Professor Tony Hedley  - Community Medicine University of Hong Kong
Plus an open forum / Q&A session

FREE Prize Draw:
FREE - The complete SD bible , "Sustainable Development in Hong Kong"
Edited by Terri Mottershead to be given away! each book is worth more than HK$ 300 Yes - absolutely FREE courtesy of HKU Press. Click here to read about the book

Supporting Sustainability - See you there!

Enquires contact us

Space will be limited - to guarantee your place, make sure you register your place
today!  first come first served (all reservations will be final, no reminder will be issued)

E&OE

Download registration form here

Web-Site

First, we must thank you for the positive feedback, we are trying hard to remain at the forefront of SD in Hong Kong and your comments are appreciated. It has been a busy very period, with the Council for Sustainable Development hosting a number of events during the First Strategy consultation period. HKSDF has been well represented at both forums and workshops. Read More Here

Our website www.hksdf.org.hk is regularly updated and comprises information and news from Hong Kong and around the world. Everyone is encouraged to visit and give their views, suggestions and comments. How can we better serve your needs? Let us know - email

Articles

If you have written an article regarding Sustainable Development, please submit a copy to HKSDF so it can be placed in our library of articles on the web-site. Publishing decisions rest solely with HKSDF.

 

Consultations

The Council for Sustainable Development's First Strategy consultation - the consultation period is drawing to a close, views need to be submitted before 12 November 2004. HKSDF will be submitting a position paper, responding to the I&R document - and your views and comments are welcomed.

Urban Development Workshop
by John Herbert

I attended The Council for Sustainable Development Urban Development workshop last Monday (18-10-2004). Like other workshops, participates were sub-divided into small working groups comprising six or seven members, and were challenged to offer solutions to one of the most important questions facing hongkongers today - How should Hong Kong develop whilst considering both economic and social diversity!

Approx forty participates from a range of backgrounds took part and offered views on almost every aspect of Hong Kong and its development. The facilitators listened, probed and summarized the key points raised, interesting using with cartoon drawings. See photographs below.

Click any photo for a larger view:

The above photo, is a representation of the new towers
in Kowloon west blocking the sunset view from angry Yau Ma Tei

The Blind Planner - Who is really planning Hong Kong? Is anyone minding the store?

The Blind Planner again, and a thief stealing
Hong Kong's green space and harbour

At the end of the night one wall was covered with poster size representations of everyone views.

During the sessions, group leaders offered a brief summary of the thoughts of the group. One participate relied the opinion from a visitor from Canada that questioning whether it was really wise to build a huge Wanchai exhibition centre in the harbour, right in the centre of Wanchai, not enough busy already? It is true, other countries build such centres on the perimeter, not right in the centre of the city! That raises the question regarding the new government headquarters, larger than before, located in Tamar - there must be a more suitable location.

More questions were raised than could be answered in three hours, a sample included:

How can we translate subjective views into a framework for planning?
Is the CSD question valid - what do the people want?
How to maintain character diversity, avoid homogenous rows of identical buildings - smaller developers, smaller scale?
How to maintain Hong Kong's Biodiversity? safety zones? country parks, SSI's?

Another interesting issue was raised, what is the method to assess not only the commercial value of space, but the social value. A green park should not be seen as a loss of income by government. Other views were raised regarding village housing, illegal structures, land sales, sales tax, needs of the people, Asia's world City - really?, etc. etc. far too many to list here.

C for SD will be publishing a summary report from all the workshops in due course. Overall it was a great event, with views expressed from professionals, legislators, and members of the general public. The cartoon drawing representations certainly added to the experience, encouraging and stimulated views.

Feedback

Your feedback is very important, and will help us to work towards making Hong Kong a better place for all. Want more events? Want more social or networking opportunities? Let us know. Your commentary or critique is sought, and encouraged. Removal instructions can be found at the end of this message.

Hong Kong Sustainable Development Forum is a non-profit NGO based in Hong Kong. Membership is FREE. To find out more visit http://www.hksdf.org.hk

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published online: 20 October 2004 / updated 25 October 2005