More than 120 secondary students from different corners of the world are gathering in Hong Kong for a weeklong environmental conference jointly organised by St. Paul’s Co-educational College and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Entitled “Today’s Challenges for Tomorrow’s Leaders“, the International Environmental Conference aims to provide an enriching experience and cultivate awareness in youth leaders. The conference runs from 29 June to 5 July and features a line-up of both indoor and outdoor activities, including keynote lectures, plenary sessions, workshops and ecological visits.
Celebrated leaders from the government, non-governmental organisations, the academia and the business sector are speaking at the conference. Guest speakers include Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment; Ms Christine Loh, CEO of Civic Exchange; Ms Audrey Eu, Chairperson of Legco’s Panel on Environmental Affairs; and Mr Eric Bohm, CEO of WWF Hong Kong.
“Youth leaders flew in from Australia, mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan and the United Kingdom to join us for an inspiring forum and cultural exchange, bringing with them an overview of the environmental situation in their own city and in their home country.” said Dr Anissa Chan, Principal of St. Paul’s Co-educational College.
“In the past decades, the issues of worldwide concern were politics and socio-economic development. While these are still of immense significance, there is one new key item on the global agenda – environmental protection. This has great impact on the survival of our next generations, and it is therefore fitting that our younger generation from different countries should put their hearts and minds together to take on pressing environmental issues.” said Dr David Mole, HKUST’s Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs (Undergraduate Studies and Academic Planning).
Participants will be placed in cross-cultural groups, providing a platform for them to interact and work together to deal with some of the most pressing environmental issues.
“While our youth leaders will learn much from academics of repute and community leaders, we expect to see in-depth discussions, a fruitful exchange of ideas, and most of all, collective effort.” added Dr Chan.
Participating in the conference are students from Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Australia; Ningbo Huizhen Academy and Shanghai High School in mainland China; the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Toa Payoh), Hwa Chong Institution and Nanyang Girls’ High School in Singapore; Stella Matutina Girls’ High School in Taiwan; the Perse School in the United Kingdom; and the Chinese International School, King George V School, South Island School and St. Paul’s Co-educational College in Hong Kong.
St. Paul’s Co-educational College has launched a school-wide environmental campaign “A New Lifestyle, A New Earth” which aims to change its staff and students’ lifestyles according to the 4 Rs (recycle, reuse, reduce and replace). The International Environmental Conference is a culmination of the yearlong campaign. It is also the third international student conference hosted by the school and follows on from the success of the science conference in 2006 and the choral conference in 2007.
For further information, please contact :
Community Relations Office, St. Paul’s Co-educational College:
Kim Tsoi
Tel: 2523 1108 / 9757 8657
Email: kimtsoi@spcc.edu.hk
Natalie Fong
Tel: 2523 1700
Email: hyfong@spcc.edu.hk
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology:
Ross Lai
Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928
Email: rosslai@ust.hk
Donna Wong
Tel: 2358 6317
Email: donnaw@ust.hk
