CUHK Business School Students Pitch in to Help Clean up South Lantau Bay Beach

Around 200 volunteers, including teachers and students from tertiary and primary schools, clean up the beach together on South Lantau Bay

On a sunny Sunday morning, 18 November, CUHK Business School students rolled up their sleeves and helped clean up the beautiful beach on South Lantau Bay with a large group of about 200. The Business School was a supporting organisation for this initiative helmed by Green Power and its corporate partner Sun Hung Kai Properties under SHKP’s “Nature Rescue” banner, which aims to engage the public, especially younger generations, in environmental conservation and education.

Other participants at this worthwhile event included teachers and students from tertiary and primary schools, Marine Parks Ambassadors from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, as well as volunteers from Sun Hung Kai Properties and the Agency for Volunteer Service. At the opening ceremony, SHKP Executive Director Mr. Christopher Kwok, Vice Chairman of Green Power Dr. Man Chi-sum, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department Mr. Elvis Au, JP, and Senior Marine Parks Officer of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Mr. Alan Chan kicked off the event by issuing a call to join hands and answer a pressing global need to protect the environment.

Volunteers spent a lively morning collecting litter and sorting it for recycling. Green Power experts also took them on a guided tour of the beach to witness the beauty of its ecosystem, which is home to a variety of coastal organisms. One of these is the horseshoe crab, a living marine fossil, for whom South Lantau Bay is one of the few remaining breeding sites in Hong Kong. Cleaning up the beach not only prevents litter from drifting back to sea and disrupting marine life, it also protects precious coastal organisms like the horseshoe crab.

Over 1,500 kg of waste and recyclables were collected that day. Ms. Florence Lai, Alumni and Corporate Affairs Director, expressed her appreciation of the joint effort. “We were delighted to participate in a meaningful initiative that integrates valuable elements of education, exploration and appreciation for nature. We believe in encouraging the younger generation in particular to care for the environment as well as to deepen their understanding of eco-friendly living,” said Ms. Lai. “We are pleased to see students form the driving force behind the Business School’s vision to become a caring company, helping to build a better world for everyone to live in.”

Ms. Maggie Ching (front row, far left), Assistant Manager of Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office, poses for a cheerful photo with CUHK Business School volunteering team

CUHK Business School students join hands to clean up the beach