Press Invitation

Presentation Ceremony of UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation for Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape

25 Nov 2021

The Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape has been awarded the inaugural “Special Recognition for Sustainable Development” in the 2020 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The recognition was given to the HSBC Rural Sustainability Programme, initiated and implemented by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) with full support from Lai Chi Wo Village and HSBC.

The award presentation will be held on November 28, 2021 at Lai Chi Wo Village, Sha Tau Kok. The Honourable Bernard Charnwut CHAN, Convenor of the Executive Council of HKSAR, will be the Guest of Honour and will deliver a keynote speech at the ceremony. Invited guests from different sectors will also join a sharing session to discuss about the impact of the project.

The “Special Recognition for Sustainable Development” is a new award category introduced by UNESCO in 2020 to recognise outstanding conservation projects for their significant contributions to sustainable development. Among 48 applications from nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape was selected for this award. The Jury applauded the Lai Chi Wo project’s pioneering approach to rural sustainability which “upholds the key dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – in undertaking the holistic rejuvenation of the historic Hakka agricultural settlement using nature-based solutions.”

Media representatives are cordially invited to the event with the following details:
Date: November 28, 2021 (Sunday)
Venue: Lai Chi Wo, Sha Tau Kok
Transport:
Gather at Ma Liu Shui Landing Steps No. 1 at 8:30am for ferry boarding.
Return trip: Take the 3:00pm ferry from Lai Chi Wo to Ma Liu Shui.

Media representatives participating in the event please register in advance. For registration and enquiries, please contact Mr Ryan Leung, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, the University of Hong Kong (tel.: 3917 4905 or 6191 5497; email: yyan85@hku.hk).

Programme details:

Time	Programme
10:30	Welcoming Remarks Mr TSANG Ah Chat and Mr TSANG Wai-yip, Village Representatives, Lai Chi Wo Village Professor William HAYWARD, Dean of Social Sciences, HKU Ms Luanne LIM, Interim Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC
10:45	Keynote Speech by Guest of Honour Hon Bernard Charnwut CHAN, GBM, GBS, JP, Convenor of the Executive Council of HKSAR
10:55	Sharing on the Project Impact Mr WONG Kam-sing, GBS, JP, Secretary for the Environment, HKSAR Ms Carmen CHAN, JP, Executive Committee Member of Heung Yee Kuk New Territories Mr Barry KWONG, Head of Climate Solutions Partnership, Asia Pacific region, HSBC Professor Wai-Fung LAM, Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU Moderator: Dr Winnie LAW, Deputy Director, Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU
11:10	Pre-recorded Congratulatory Remarks on behalf of UNESCO Dr DUONG Bich Hanh, Chief of Culture Unit, UNESCO Bangkok
11:15	Award Presentation and Unveiling of Award Plaque Officiating Guests: Professor David LUNG, SBS, JP to present the award on behalf of UNESCO Hon Bernard Charnwut CHAN, GBM, GBS, JP, Convenor of the Executive Council of HKSAR Mr TSANG Ah Chat and Mr TSANG Wai-yip, Village Representatives, Lai Chi Wo Village Dr POON Sun Cheong Patrick, SBS, Deputy Chairman, HKU Foundation Professor William HAYWARD, Dean of Social Sciences, HKU Ms Luanne LIM, Interim Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC Photo-taking with Project Partners and Guests
11:25	Hakka Unicorn Dance
11:45	Lai Chi Wo Guided Tour
12:30	End of Event