The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held the National Ecology Day (NED) 2024 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15) to launch a series of environmental protection and nature conservation activities and offers. Representatives of government and non-governmental organisations, scholars and experts from the Mainland and Hong Kong were invited to exchange views on the work of building ecological civilisation.
The theme of this year's NED is "Promoting eco-friendly economic and social development in all respects". The Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Director of the Planning and Natural Resources Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality (SZPNR), Mr Xu Songming; the Acting Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse; and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, attended the launching ceremony as the officiating guests.
Other guests at the launching ceremony included the Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs, Mr Lau Kwok-fan; members of the Panel, Mr Frankie Yick, Ms Elizabeth Quat and Ms Judy Chan; the Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Chan Pak-cheung; the Acting Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Fong Kin-wa; and the Acting Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Lee Lap-shun.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the SZPNR signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement for the Enhancement of Wutong Mountain (Shenzhen) – Robin's Nest (Hong Kong) Ecological Corridor for establishing the co-operation framework agreement on creating an ecological corridor between Wutong Mountain Scenic Area in Shenzhen and Robin's Nest Country Park in Hong Kong. The scope of co-operation includes cleaning up invasive alien species, conducting ecological baseline surveys, examining enhancement of the ecological corridor for terrestrial animals and exchanging experiences on nature education.
In his opening speech, Mr Cheuk said that the country emphasised that nature provided the basic conditions for human survival and development. The harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature in development planning must be maintained, and the important concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" must be upheld. He stressed that the HKSAR Government was committed to the conservation of Hong Kong's natural ecology, such as designating Robin's Nest Country Park and North Lantau Marine Park, actively taking forward the establishment of Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park in the Northern Metropolis, updating Hong Kong's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and continuing the enhancement of co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on the nature conservation and environmental protection fronts.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Xu said that Shenzhen and Hong Kong, separated only by a narrow strip of water, constitute an interdependent ecological community. Facing the future, ecological integration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong for jointly building a world-class and beautiful bay area are the implicit requirements for the two cities to deepen co-operation and achieve mutual benefits. He said he hoped that both Shenzhen and Hong Kong would take the signing of the Cooperative Framework Agreement for the Enhancement of Wutong Mountain (Shenzhen) – Robin's Nest (Hong Kong) Ecological Corridor as an opportunity to carry out deeper, higher-level and broader co-operation and exchanges in the fields of natural resources and ecological protection, jointly tell the good story of building ecological civilisation in China, and jointly write a profound chapter for regional co-operation between the two places.
Miss Wong pointed out during her speech that the theme of the second NED was "Promoting eco-friendly economic and social development in all respects", which showed the determination of the Mainland and Hong Kong to promote green development and carbon neutrality in an active and steady manner. In the past year, the HKSAR Government has taken forward the four major decarbonisation strategies and measures, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction, steadily implementing the transformation to low carbon. The HKSAR Government will continue to work with all sectors of society towards achieving ecological civilisation, driving green transformation and building a beautiful China and a beautiful Hong Kong.
Speakers at the symposium included member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Boya Chair Professor of Peking University, Professor Fang Jingyun; the Director of the Centre for Civil Society and Governance, Professor of Public Administration of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Professor Danny Lam; Adjunct Professor of the Department of Geography and Resource Management of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Professor Lam Kin-che; Research Assistant Professor of the School of Life Sciences of the CUHK Dr Apple Chui; the Head of Department and Professor of the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture of the HKU, Professor He Shenjing; and the Head of the Countryside Conservation Office of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Professor Stephen Tang. They exchanged views on ecological situations and conservation amidst the changing climate in China, Hong Kong's rural revitalisation, countryside and ecological conservation, and coral restoration.
The HKSAR Government has earlier announced that the Government and non-governmental organisations will launch various special activities and offers from August 15 to 31, including free admission to eco-facilities, free guided eco-tours, night safari, workshops and seminars, for the public to support and participate in the second NED, thereby raising public awareness of ecological civilisation and their consciousness of the need for thought and action to protect the environment. Details of the special activities and offers have been uploaded to the social media platform of the Countryside Conservation Office (www.facebook.com/countrysideconservationhk), the social media platform of T·PARK (www.facebook.com/tparkhk), the Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub website of the AFCD (bih.gov.hk/en/education-programmes/programmes/index.html) as well as the websites or social media platforms of participating organisations.
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