Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focusing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
People always ask me: “Why do you care so much about butterflies?
”Well, let me tell you a story.
Look around you. Butterflies are quietly living in our daily life.
They appear on our T‑shirts, earrings and handbags.
They fly through our poems, dramas, stories, our culture.
And when a real butterfly suddenly dances past your window, you stop, you smile… and for a moment, your pressure drops and your heart feels a little lighter. So when we protect butterflies, we are actually protecting our own happiness, and the environment that keeps us alive.
There was a quiet little valley in Tai Po.
Most people in Hong Kong had no idea about the treasure chest of butterflies –
But some people did notice… and they came not with cameras, but with nets.
Collectors and poachers from overseas snuck in, even taking butterfly eggs from the leaves.
Imagine: while most of us were still sleeping, the future of Hong Kong’s butterflies was quietly being stolen away.
We couldn’t just sit and watch, we the Environmental Association, together a group of passionate volunteers, decided to act.
In 2005, we create the Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve in Tai Po – a safe home, a “butterfly haven” where these fragile lives could survive and thrive. Today, about 90% of Hong Kong’s 250 butterfly species have been recorded in this one small reserve.
It’s like the “Butterfly MTR Interchange Station” – almost everyone has to pass through!
One day, we had a surprise guest.
We spotted a butterfly, a tiny traveller that had flown all the way from Japan to Hong Kong. No passport, no air ticket, no luggage – just two wings and a very strong sense of direction.
That one little insect opened up a brand new research project, tracing the mysterious migration route of this “flying traveller” and reminding us that nature has no borders.
At the same time, we started to build a butterfly network in urban area. We began working with property managers, housing estates, hotels, schools – anyone, anyone who would listen – to build butterfly gardens across the city.
From Tuen Mun Gold Coast to urban estates, from hotels to campuses, we helped turn ordinary corners into little butterfly homes, serving fresh nectar, and providing butterfly maternity suite every day. Slowly, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Macau, even places in Malaysia joined this network of butterfly gardens.
You could say we are running an international “Butterfly Airbnb” – offering safe rooms with a great garden view.
Behind the pretty wings, there is something deeper.
Butterflies need clean air, healthy plants and safe habitats.
If they can survive, it means our environment is doing better.
If they disappear, it’s a warning sign – like nature’s own alarm clock ringing in our ears. So when we plant a bush for butterflies, we are actually planting hope for ourselves, for our children, and for this city we love.
Now, where do you come in?
You don’t need a PhD in biology to help butterflies.
You can start with a flowerpot on your balcony, a small garden in your school or work place, or simply by visiting us at Tai Po Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve and supporting ongoing conservation work. Imagine Hong Kong as a true “Butterfly City” –
where along our streets, in our estates, on our school roofs, work place and hotels, butterflies are quietly dancing in the wind, and every time one flies past, it reminds us:
This city is still alive and happy.
Nature is still here and thriving.
And we have chosen to protect it. So next time someone asks, “Why do you care about butterflies?”
You can smile and say: “Because when butterflies are happy, people are happier too”
People living with dementia face profound difficulties in their daily lives, struggling with memory loss, confusion, and an increasing inability to perform routine tasks. These challenges often lead to deep frustration and feelings of helplessness. The obstacles they encounter are complex and far-reaching, including delays in diagnosis, physical deterioration, cognitive decline, emotional turmoil, social withdrawal, and the practical difficulties of receiving proper care. At the same time, family members and carers experience tremendous emotional pressure, physical exhaustion, and significant financial burdens as they try to provide adequate support. Communication breakdowns and unpredictable changes in behavior further complicate relationships, creating tension and misunderstandings. The situation is made worse by insufficient support services and the persistent stigma surrounding dementia, leaving both patients and their carers feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
Hong Kong's aging population makes these challenges particularly pressing. Recent government statistics show that 21% of Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents are aged 65 or older, marking the city's transition into a "super-aged" society. Research from The Chinese University of Hong Kong indicates that 10% of people over 70 living in the community have dementia, with most cases going undiagnosed in its early stages. This suggests there may be tens of thousands of older people in Hong Kong currently living with undetected early-stage dementia, missing out on crucial early intervention opportunities.
The Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing has been at the forefront of addressing these issues. As an organization dedicated to serving people with dementia, we provide comprehensive services while also offering professional training for carers and conducting important research to improve care standards. In 2023, we were thrilled to receive approval from the Jockey Club Charities Trust for our ambitious "Brain Health" Dementia Screening and Community Support Programme. This four-year initiative represents the largest support programme for early-stage dementia patients and their families in Hong Kong's history, focusing on early detection through screening, coordinated medical and social services, and robust community support.
Diagnosing dementia presents significant challenges that contribute to delayed detection. The process currently depends heavily on specialists like geriatricians, neurologists, and psychiatrists, whose limited availability creates long waiting times in public healthcare and expensive private options. Many elderly individuals consequently postpone seeking help. Expanding training for family doctors in dementia care could greatly improve this situation. Another major hurdle is the subtle nature of early symptoms, which patients often fail to recognize and families frequently misinterpret as normal aging, leading to dangerous delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Early detection makes a crucial difference in dementia outcomes. When treatment begins in the early stages, medications can more effectively slow cognitive decline. Early diagnosis also gives patients and families valuable time to prepare for the future and make important care arrangements. Maintaining brain health through social interaction, regular exercise, proper nutrition, and good sleep habits can help preserve cognitive function, but dementia makes these healthy behaviors increasingly difficult to maintain. Patients often struggle with poor appetite, disrupted sleep patterns, and diminished motivation, while many also battle chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension that require careful medication management - a particular challenge for those with memory problems.
