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FoE (HK) hosts an eco-tour for Earth Partner
enterprises every year since 2007 to promote
important environmental messages to their
staff through field studies. People working
in different sectors can make use of the
opportunity to share and exchange.
This year we chose Tai O, ˇĄthe Venice
of the Eastˇ¦, as the location for our
eco-tour. Representatives from 16 Earth
Partner enterprises along with some of
our members formed a group of 80 people,
and visited Tai O on 14th December last
year. This little old fishing village
sitting on the western side of Lantau
Island still preserves the traditional
face of Hong Kong. The group was treated
to local famous dishes making from shrimp
paste and salted fish.
Through
a guided tour with the local people, we
told the historical background of Tai
O to all participants. The area was rich
in natural resources, with an abundance
of mangroves. Although we did not see
the Chinese White Dolphins they love to
live and rest in the vicinity, we did
introduce information about them to our
group. The culturally rich and unique
stilt houses, the abandoned salt fields
that were once the villageˇ¦s economic
lifeline, and the different temples all
allowed our participants to understand
how this historical village, which was
once Hong Kongˇ¦s lifeline, evolved over
the course of history.
Tai
O has grown old with the passing years.
Last year the government endorsed a subsidy
of HK$0.62 billion to revitalize the area,
and the construction is still under planning.
Many participants expressed a deep liking
to this heaven on earth. Like many metropolitan
who are kept busy by meetings and computer
works. It was qualified to be a plain
trip for getting close to nature and adjust
the body and soul.
During the guided tour we chatted with
an old couple. Some participants said,
ˇ§We envy you because you live in this
happy land everyday.ˇ¨ The old woman replied,
ˇ§We also envy that you to be able to live
in the prosperous city.ˇ¨ But when we said,
ˇ§The air is very polluted there.ˇ¨ she
nodded and smiled, happy that she could
live in this untainted land. However,
improving transportation networks and
achieving basic livelihood conditions
have become the villagersˇ¦ appeals for
a basic life.
As our society undergoes economic development
and promotes materialistism, the preservation
of our cultural heritage and the natural
environment usually does not withstand
the tests of time. Looking at foreign
countries, they treasure their locally
unique and culturally valuable places,
doing their best to keep them intact and
repairing them. Some of these places have
even become World Cultural Heritage, and
are kept alive for future generations
to witness history.
With an increasing awareness of environmental
conservation and a demand for a healthy
environment, must economic development
take the path of ˇĄdemolish and rebuildˇ¦?
How should we plan to strike the balance?
We hope everyone can have a deeper understanding
of sustainable development through this
trip.
(Upper) Representatives of Earth Partner
and our members were gathering at Tai
O pier.
  
(Left) Yahoo! Green Volunteers, Cheers!
(Centre & Right) Yahoo! Green Volunteers
were hard-working on cleaning the wastes
in mangroves and river.
Last year Tai O was hit by typhoons frequently,
and the lives of its villagers were affected.
FoE (HK) visited Tai O in November last
year, along with 30 ˇ§Yahoo! Green Volunteersˇ¨.
Apart from gaining an understanding of
the local environment and fishing village
culture, we also cleaned up the mess left
behind by the typhoons, including plastic
bags, bottles, slippers, fishing nets,
even an antennae, etc. We improved the
local river and mangrove habitats, and
did our bit for Tai O.
During the process they experienced how
daily waste could affect the environment,
and understand the impact of human activities
on Nature. Afterwards they all agreed
to reduce creating waste and to do recycling
more often.
Our sincere thanks to our Earth Partner
representatives and ˇ§Yahoo! Green Volunteersˇ¨
for their participation and contribution
on the enterprise level. FoE (HK) will
continue to provide different opportunities
for participation and look forward to
a higher level cooperation with the business
sector regarding environmental conservation.
Friends of the Earth (HK)
February 2009
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