Source: School of Geography and Planning
Written by: Li Hexun
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

The 5th South China Social and Economic Survey (Guangdong-Hong Kong collaboration project), cohosted by School of Geography and Planning of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and Chung Chi College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was rounded off on August 8th, 2015 in The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Led by Professor Mee Kam Ng, Miss Biyun Kong and Mr. Victor Chung, fifteen students from the two universities conducted the survey of Low Carbon and Sustainable Development in Guangdong and Hong Kong from July 27th to August 8th. During the two-week survey, the students paid visits to local representative institutions and agencies before giving the preliminary presentation in CUHK.

This survey is conducted in the Pearl River Delta region and Hong Kong by four groups on the themes of “Ideal Low Carbon Lifestyle and Practice”, "Green Economic Operator”, "Urban Agricultural Manor” and “Challenges of Low-carbon Development”. Each group consists of students in SYSU and CUHK, focusing on the specified theme during the two-week survey.

In the Pearl River Delta region from July 27th to August 1st, the students listened to the lecture given by Associate Professor Kairong Lin on “Sustainable Development of Urban Stormwater and Flood Control”. They visited Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, Haizhu Wetland Park, Pearl River New City and Lychee Wan Chung, as well as took the tram when sightseeing in Guangzhou. Later they paid a visit to Kaiping Diaolou, and then arrived in Zhuhai, visiting Tsinghua Science Park (Zhuhai), Qi’ao Island Mangrove Wetland Park, and Wild Beaver Island.
 

Group photo
 

Later in the second phase of the survey in Hong Kong, the students visited Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, Mapopo Community Farm, Zero Carbon Building (ZCB), Kowloon Bay Waste Recycle Centre, Yan Oi Tong EcoPark Plastic Resources Recycling Centre, Hong Kong Wetland Park, and Hong Kong Museum of History. They benefited a lot from the lectures given by guest speakers from WWF, Planning Department and Land Justice League.

During the survey, the group members had many inspiring discussions. After the survey, they will work cooperatively on the final written report.

Through this two-week survey on low carbon and sustainable development in Guangdong and Hong Kong, the students from both universities have a better understanding of not only the current environmental situation and low carbon development in South China, but also the urgent need to implement the low carbon life concept. Meanwhile, members of the survey group forged a deep friendship in communication, study and interaction, and learned more about the social development and folk culture of both areas, thus promoting the exchanges and collaborations between SYSU and CUHK.