Fifteen students from CUHK and CUHK(SZ) participated in a four-day Green Camp and visited two innovative housing projects on 30 May, 2024. The two housing projects include the transitional housing project that has been refurbished from vacant school premises on Cheung Shan Estate, which is part of the Lok Sin Tong Transitional Housing Scheme (LST Housing), and the upcoming transitional housing project on Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok. Mr. Victor Tai Sheung-shing, the Under Secretary for Housing in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, was also invited to the camp for camp for dialogue with students about the Choi Hing Road project on sustainable urban development in Hong Kong that combines innovation, technology and environmental protection.
Mr. Tai talked about the Hong Kong government’s experience of using vacant school premises and other urban resources to construct transitional housing, integrating principles of sustainable development while addressing grassroots housing needs. He was also delighted with CUHK and CUHK(SZ) students’ engagement in the city’s sustainable development.
Students were deeply impressed by the innovative design and construction methods of the 8-storey Choi Hing Road project, which successfully repurposes integrated modules originally used in the 3-storey transitional housing in To Kwa Wan. It demonstrates how the green concept of value added temporary usage of urban resources can be combined with sustainable technologies to provide better living environments for subdivided flat residents, with a shorter construction time.
CUHK and CUHK(SZ) are committed to fulfilling their social responsibility and being leaders in the research, teaching and institutional practice of sustainable development. To promote students’ understanding of and continuous engagement in the sustainable development and ecological conservation of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, United College, CUHK and Ling College, CUHK(SZ) organised a four-day Green Camp, covering areas such as urban planning, green constructions, renewable energy and ecological conservation.
The Green Camp was led by Professor Stephen Wong Heung-sang, Head of United College, CUHK and Professor Lu Zongli, Master of Ling College, CUHK(SZ). Professor Wong thanked the Housing Bureau for arranging the visit and said he hoped it would deepen students’interest in and enthusiasm for participating in sustainable urban development. Professor Lu also expressed the hope that the camp would facilitate the exchange of ideas among students on green issues, and encourage them to contribute to the sustainable future of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
In addition to visiting the transitional housing projects in Hong Kong, the camp also included visits to the Future Building in Shenzhen; Shenzhen Honghualing Nature Trail; CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, the world’s first museum focusing on climate change; and energy-saving and renewable energy facilities at United College, CUHK, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the new landscape where innovative ideas meet sustainable development in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
