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Managing Director of URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing, attends the closing ceremony of URA’s summer programme, sharing ideas about urban renewal and “Smart City” with young childrens.
Managing Director of URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing, attends the closing ceremony of URA’s summer programme, sharing ideas about urban renewal and “Smart City” with young children.
26 Aug 2016

URA encourages students to explore urban renewal through experiential learning

More than 80 primary school students participated in a summer programme organised by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), which aimed to inspire students to look at the importance of urban renewal and to explore ways to improve the quality of living through experiential learning and visits to some of the old districts in Hong Kong. 

A finale event was held today (Friday) at the Urban Renewal Resource Centre for the participants to share their learning experience in the past two months through a poster design competition, in which they put together their creative brains to design a poster based on various themes of the summer programme, covering green buildings, environmental sustainability and the importance of urban renewal. 

In partnership with five community organisations, the URA have teamed up with Young Ambassadors (a scheme organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and Tourism Commission) and students of the City University of Hong Kong to conduct a series of docent tours to URA's projects in Central and Western District, Wan Chai and Kwun Tong, where the students had a chance to experience the living condition in old districts and know about the importance of urban renewal in improving the quality of life for the people living in dilapidated areas.  The participants also visited the Energizing Kowloon East Office, which shared with them a new concept of "smart city".

Speaking at the finale event, Managing Director of the URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing, said, "The URA is exploring the opportunities of making Hong Kong into a sustainable 'Smart City' through incorporating 'smart' features in its urban renewal initiatives, such as low carbon neighbourhood, walkable community, greener infrastructure, sustainable transport and smart living data sharing.  We hope to inspire more thinking and discussion among the young people so that we can achieve the 'smart' goals together."

One of the participating primary six students of the summer programme, Ho Tung-lung, said: "It is the first time that I visited caged homes in old buildings.  The living space is very gloomy and hot.  I learned a lot about the poor living condition of caged homes from the visit."

City University of Hong Kong student-volunteer, Wayne Leung Wang-pong, who led the primary students to visit the old districts, said: "The summer programme allowed me to better understand the work of URA which is very meaningful.  While it redevelops old buildings into new ones, the URA also incorporate environmental-friendly and sustainable elements into its new developments."

The five partnering organisations for the summer programme are: Mong Kok Kai Fong Association Chan Hing Social Service Centre, HOPE worldwide Centre for Kids, Changing Young Lives Foundation Madam T. Y. Wong (Alee Vee) Centre, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Jockey Club Tai Kok Tsui Integrated Services Centre, and Caritas Mok Cheung Sui Kun Community Centre.

More information and photos of the URA's summer programme are available at the website of the Urban Renewal Exploration Centre (www.urec.org.hk) and its Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/UrbanRenewalExplorationCentre).
 

(ENDS)

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