Meeting Green NGO’s in Hong Kong and China
Bimalka, November 2008

I experience my first international conference in Hong Kong by participating on “Building Green Partnership for Sustainable Development; collaboration of Green NGOs, Businesses and Government at University of Hong Kong, organized by the Conservancy Association in 29-30 November 2008.

Conference was organized in celebration of the Conservancy Association’s 40th Anniversary (1968-2008). Participants include Green NGO from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, business sector and government officials who have been engaged by green NGOs in sustainable development initiatives, researchers, experts etc share their experiences.

Conservancy Association is the first ever green group of Hong Kong and involves in many activities with different group of stakeholders and diversify group of professionals. Some of their activities are focused on trees/ habitat/ heritage conservation, urban greening, educational activities, waste reduction and recycling.

This was a great opportunity for me to get the exposure of green NGOs working in Hong Kong and China and it was a good start for me. Topic mainly focused on: Changing role of green NGOs; public-private partnership; engaging the community and the government; capacity building; professional’s role in capacity building for sustainable development and funding models. Issues that are discussed related to Sri Lankan Green NGOs too. I made a discussion with WWF HK whether we could use WWF HK check list for grading Sri Lankan Industries and accordingly they said that this will take up at their March meeting for discussion. If so we could make link with WWF in Sri Lanka.

In the afternoon of the second day of the conference we joined with the traditional visit to Long Valley in the New Territories. This includes a traditional tour in the rural area of Hong Kong and to understand some of the projects under taken by the Conservancy Association. Under the sustainable habitat management scheme which was completed in March 2008 in Long valley by the Conservancy Association, successfully engaged local people to carry out wet agricultural, organic farming and feng shui wood conservation and educational work. They are currently joint hands with Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and caring out a new project on Natural Conservation Management for Long Valley. This gave me an opportunity to get exposure of another side of Hong Kong Culture and visit one of the fresh water farmland in Hong Kong. It was a grate escape from the busy traffic flow and air pollution in Hong Kong. We got to know about the traditional Hong Kong Customs, “Haka” people and involved in bird watching and learned about the organic farming and many more. “Haka” people have a long history in this village. It was also noted the Hill fires in the area. I am thankful for Prof. Wing-tat for including Linh and my self for this fruitful conference.