簡介
Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
最新
Paul Chan, Co-founder and CEO of Walk In Hong Kong
World Heritage Day 2024 marks on 18th April. The significance of this occasion resonates deeply within me. Beyond its global celebration of heritage conservation, this day serves as a call to action for communities worldwide to reaffirm our dedication to protecting our heritage and cultural identity. Today, I'm compelled to share my thoughts not just as a seasoned heritage and cultural tour operator, but also as a passionate advocate for the preservation of our city's rich heritage and culture.
Heritage transcends mere buildings and historic sites; it embodies the essence and identity of a city, weaving together the stories and memories of generations. Whenever I lead heritage tours and delve into the archives of old Hong Kong photographs, a profound sense of nostalgia washes over me. When I saw old pictures of the elegant colonial architecture of Central, the charming row of walk-up shophouses of Kowloon, or the rustic beauty of the New Territories – these are not mere structures but repositories of our collective history and livelihood. Sadly, many of these architectural gems have succumbed to the pressures of rapid urbanization and development.
Witnessing the loss of our heritage is truly heartbreaking, as each demolition represents a potential loss of our remaining sites if we do not take decisive action. Once these architectural marvels are gone, they cannot be replaced, and with their disappearance, we lose a vital part of our cultural identity. Missed opportunities to leverage our heritage as a unique selling point for our city are evident, especially as we work towards revitalizing our tourism industry
post-pandemic. Nevertheless, there is still time to effect change. Transitioning into a heritage advocate has led me to frequently ponder the relevance of my cause. To me, the answer is clear – we have a duty to conserve what makes our city exceptional. In a world saturated with standardized attractions and tourist traps, our heritage stands as a beacon of authenticity and uniqueness.
Safeguarding our heritage is imperative if we wish to maintain our status as a leading tourism destination."
That is the major reason why we launched the conservation campaign to save the State Theatre, the largest surviving standalone theatre building on Hong Kong Island. During the campaign, we've adopted a comprehensive approach with the hope of enhancing the survival chance of this building. Not only did we successfully lobby the theatre from a Grade 3 proposed Historic building status to that of Grade 1, but we also enhanced the public’s emotional attachment to the
site through talks, walking tours, and interviews, etc. To this day, we persist in refining our strategies to strike a balance between conservation with economic sustainability.
We know that heritage conservation isn't just about preserving physical structures; only by also excavating its stories and memories can we truly preserve the spirit of a place. That is why we have produced To Be Continued, a documentary which chronicles the life and legacy of State Theatre’s founder, Harry Odell, the first impresario in Hong Kong, whose relentless efforts to invite best performers from the world to Hong Kong has made our city already a “East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange” in the 1950s.
We also recognize the crucial role of integrating heritage with sustainable tourism as a way to deepen our present connections to the past. As part of this recognition, we have launched a tourism innovation project supported by the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme. Our project aims to revitalise the villages of Sha Tau Kok and Yan Chau Tong areas by introducing immersive and sustainable tourism experiences in their Hakka villages. By leveraging the rich heritage of Hakka houses and the picturesque village landscapes, we curate unforgettable experiences such as seasonal dining against the backdrop of a majestic Hakka mansion. These immersive experiences enable both visitors and locals to connect with and embody the stories, memories, and rituals, thereby passing on the spirit of the past and its cultures to the present. We firmly believe that such emotional encounters are integral to our ongoing efforts to advance the cause of heritage conservation.
As the Chinese proverb wisely reminds us, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Next Thursday, on 18th April, I encourage you all to think about the ways we can increase awareness regarding the preservation of important monuments and cultures. Perhaps the most straightforward way to celebrate one’s cultural heritage on World Heritage Day is by authentically living one’s life in a way that embodies who we are and where we come from, but we can also think of the little ways we can protect our shared heritage and humanity. Look online to see if any community events are going on in the city that tell stories about our surroundings. Spread awareness by posting pictures of little-known historical sites on social media. World Heritage is about the humanity and stories we share, and our collective responsibility in keeping these stories and sites alive.
I urge you all to join me in this journey to protect and preserve our heritage. Let us celebrate our past, embrace our present, and safeguard our future.
重溫
Wong Suet-mei, Conservation Officer, The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
World Migratory Bird Day 2023 was celebrated on 13th of May. This annual campaign reminds every one of the urgency to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. It echoes The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) ’s mission which is to promote appreciation and protection of birds and their habitats.
HKBWS is a non-government organization, founded in 1957, with a vision of "People and birds living in harmony as nature continues to thrive." Our work ranges from scientific research, habitat management, and education to conservation advocacy.
Wild birds, especially migratory birds, are facing multiple threats worldwide. Urban development not only causes the ongoing loss of suitable habitats, but buat also creates death traps that are threatening the survival of birds. Amongst these traps, bird-window collision is one of the major killers.
Bird-window collisions refer to when birds fail to recognise a glass curtain wall or mirror as an obstacle and mistakenly think they can fly into it, thus hitting the building and causing injury or even death.
HKBWS has released its first report on bird-window collisions in Hong Kong. The report consolidates the data collected during the period from September to December last year. A total of 179 deaths and 17 injuries were recorded in the bird-window collision cases in these four months. Seven of them are species of conservation concern, such as the globally “Critically Endangered” Yellow-breasted Bunting, and the nationally Class II protected species Northern Boobook.
The window collision victims were distributed across multiple districts in Hong Kong. Various types of structures were involved in collision events, for example, buildings and shopping malls with extensive glass or mirror facades, transparent noise barriers, glass railings, and village houses with glass doors and windows. Bird window collisions may pose a challenge to local biodiversity, and even more, to the protection of globally threatened species. We must not overlook such risks.
It’s time to work together to save the birds and turn Hong Kong into a Bird-Friendly City.
What can we do as a member of the public?
To fully understand the seriousness of bird-window collision in Hong Kong, we must continue recording the situation and further expanding our monitoring. We would like to invite all of you to participate in our Bird Collision Monitoring Campaign by reporting bird collision cases to the Global Bird Collision Mapper, and support our work. You will get an anti-bird collision tee in return for a donation of $400 or above.
What if you are the property owners, developers, or architects?
One way to prevent bird-window collisions is to design your buildings and the surrounding landscape in a way that is safe for birds. Apart from reducing the use of transparent or reflective glass materials, you can consider using bird-friendly glass and leaving sufficient buffer between the greening area and the glass. For those existing buildings, you can start a monitoring scheme to identify the potential collision risk in your properties. If there is an area of high risk, you should apply treatments on the outside surface to help the birds see the glass as a barrier, such as putting up stickers with a dense pattern that has a maximum gap of 5 cm.
Changing our ways to use lights at night can also be a way to reduce bird-window collisions. Birds are easily disorientated by artificial light during migration at night. They are very often attracted to the urban areas where glass elements are commonly found, thus increasing their chance of colliding with buildings. We can adopt bird-friendly lighting strategies to reduce the risk, such as turning off non-flashing lights at night.
To prevent bird collisions in the long run, regulations and policies are also crucial. The Hong Kong government can refer to the practice of other countries and consider introducing new laws to ensure bird-friendly elements are incorporated into all building designs. Like in New York, a new law has taken effect in 2021 that requires all new construction and alteration of buildings to use bird friendly materials and designs.
Lastly, we once again call for your support and participation in our long-term data collection, monitoring, analysis and policy advocacy. Let us all work together and help create a safer and better environment for birds living in and passing through Hong Kong, such that we can move towards our vision of "People and birds living in harmony as nature continues to thrive."
I'd like to share this song with you all this morning, I want to dedicate Up&Up by Coldplay
