The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held the National Ecology Day 2025 Launching Ceremony cum Symposium today (August 15), commencing a series of activities related to environmental protection and ecological conservation with representatives from the Mainland and HKSAR Governments, and non-governmental organizations, scholars and experts to exchange ideas on ecological civilization concepts and conservation work.
Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific & Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ye Shuiqiu officiated at the ceremony.
Delivering the opening speech, Mr Cheuk remarked that this year's National Ecology Day, the third such event, coincided with the 20th anniversary of President Xi Jinping introducing the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, and that this made the occasion even more special.
Mr Cheuk emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government places great importance in the country's “ecological civilisation” initiatives, and is working to promote green transformation in society, conserve the natural environment, and strengthen co-operation with the Mainland, in order to build a beautiful China and a beautiful Hong Kong.
At the launch ceremony, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Rescue Mechanism for Large Aquatic Wild Animals” with the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. Its aim is to strengthen co-operation between the two places in the rescue of large aquatic wild animals, and to facilitate the sharing of experience and technology in order to improve ecological safety in the waters adjacent to Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
At the symposium, representatives from the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR Governments, and from non-governmental organisations, as well as scholars and experts, exchanged ideas on conservation work and the concept of ecological civilisation. Prof. Wang Yuhong, Director of Research Centre for Nature-based Urban Infrastructure Solutions (RNUS), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was invited to share a talk at the Ceremony. The title is Connect Urban Development, Nature Conservation, and Rural Revitalization through Nature-based Solutions.
Prof. Ling Kar-kan, Interim Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) of PolyU hosted the symposium. Speakers of the symposium included the President of the China Institute for Rural Studies of Tsinghua University and Tenured Professor of the School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University, Professor Wang Yahua; Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Professor Wang Yuhong; the Director of the Hong Kong Culture and Sustainability Centre, Professor Louis Yu; the Assistant Director (Country Parks) of the AFCD, Dr Jackie Yip; and the Head of the Countryside Conservation Office of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Professor Stephen Tang. They shared that the Northern Metropolis development provides us with both opportunities and challenges in urban planning and rural development, particularly on striking a delicate balance meeting development needs and conserving the biodiversity, cultural heritage, and traditional assets of our beautiful countryside.
Online coverage:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202508/15/P2025081500678.htm
https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2025/08/20250815/20250815_190444_498.html
https://cnsd.gov.hk/tc/event-news/hksar-government-holds-national-ecology-day-launching-ceremony-with-photos/
