Local
Highlights from panelists
Mr. Felix LI, President of HKIA :
‘It is great that Hon Secretary Mr. Wong and Pro. Lee shared with us their insights on how to achieve healthy city design from medical and sustainability point of view so we can all ‘not only live but live well’ and healthy in this challenging pandemic period and beyond!! Let’s work together to achieve this aim!’
Ms. Corrin CHAN, Vice President of HKIA :
'COVID-19 has brought forth an enhanced awareness to the health of people and environment. We need an intersectional collaborative approach with political & policy commitment and citizen engagement to build HK into a healthy liveable sustainable city.
Dr Lee’s talk shared how a good healthy city planning and urban design can contribute to the physical, mental and social well-being of people. The success of a healthy city needs pro-active and coordinated urban planning, good governance to enhance participatory processes, value citizen’s voices.
KS has shared with us the importance of green recovery to mitigate climate change and the progress in the past years by the Environment Bureau in developing renewable energy, improving air quality and transforming waste to resources.
For climate action, clean air, EV popularisation and waste management, the Environment Bureau has set the respective blueprint so that Hong Kong people can enjoy a healthier and more livable environment according to the roadmap.
The Medical and Building professionals, with the support from government and citizens’ engagements, will join force with other stakeholders to implement the Healthy City Initiatives for positive changes in our city.'
Mr. Lawrence CHAU, President of HKIP :
‘Inspired that professionals of built environment and medical fields can collaborate with the community to make Hong Kong livable.
Time to act. Make things happen. Widen our pavements. Comfortable public spaces. Clear air and more.’
Ms. Michelle YUEN, Member of HKIP :
‘My take away from today’s inauguration talk from Prof. Lee and Mr. KS Wong: the pre-requisite of flourishing a HEALTHY CITY is a HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT both physically and socially. Let’s act together to create a safe, liveable, happy, interactive, seamless, green, equal and energetic environment to achieve a better Hong Kong.'
Ms. Amy CHEUNG, Founder of Community Living Room :
'I look forward to seeing more research development and innovative mindset being deployed into our healthcare and environmental systems in the post COVID-19 HK, propelled by intersectoral collaboration between government officials, business leaders, academics and different community stakeholders, let’s take ownership to envision and create a more equitable, greener and healthier Hong Kong.’
Speakers:
Mr. KS WONG
Secretary for the Environment, Environment Bureau, HKSARG
As an architect by profession, Mr. Wong has been promoting sustainable built environment since 1990s. His designs and researches on sustainable built environment have won him various local, regional and international awards. He served as the founder Chairman of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Chairman of the Professional Green Building Council and the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Green Building Council, and has contributed to the promotion and research of the standards and guidelines for sustainable built environment applicable to the high-density urban environment of Hong Kong.
During his tenure as the Secretary for the Environment, Mr. Wong has launched a number of environmental policy blueprints, including “A Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong”, the “Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022”, the “Energy Saving Plan for Hong Kong’s Built Environment 2015~2025+”, the “Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2021” and the “Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+”.
Climate Reform, Green Recovery
“Fighting the pandemic and engaging in recovery” as well as “combating climate change” are two major challenges facing the world. And 2020s is a critical period to take actions. Looking forward, we need your support for green recovery and tackle these together, for the timely recovery of the earth, a healthier circular economy, and healthier and happier people. Among other things, it is an important and long-term mission to foster a low-carbon liveable built environment through more sustainable and innovative town planning, design, construction and management.
Prof. Albert LEE
Clinical Professor, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK;
Founding Director, Centre of Health Education and Health Promotion (CHEP), CUHK;
Founding Member, Steering Committee of Alliance for Healthy Cities (2003-2012, 2016-now)
Professor Albert Lee is currently Clinical Professor of Public Health and Primary Care and Founding Director of Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He received his medical training at University of London with higher professional and academic qualifications in Family Medicine, Public Health, Legal Medicine, Dispute Resolution and Education. His research interests are healthy city and health school development, health and equity and community based care. His work has gained international recognition by invitation to serve as Advisor in Health Promotion by WHO, elected as International Member of US National Academy of Medicine (first from Hong Kong) and Honorary Fellow of Faculty of Public Health, UK. Albert has published over 240 scientific papers and over 180 invited presentations.
Healthy City to Sustain Healthy Environment
UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 call for good health and well-being (SDG 3) but it cannot materialize without making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11). Socio-ecological models state that a person's health status is not only influenced by individual behaviour but also by factors situated in the person's environment. The modern concept of Healthy City is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments by calling for greater participation and partnerships for health and well-being with investment in the people making up our cities and deeper understanding of the complex interconnections between the ecological, economic and social foundations of human development and health. Healthy environment is not only green spaces but also maintenance of public spaces, perceptions of safety and community security, zoning and land use mix, and population density. It also includes the internal environment and social capital. Local engagement is very much needed for holistic urban planning conducive for health and well-being.
