Resilient & Robust Cities Conference 

07/12/2017

Image: chu hai college of higher education

The concept of sustainable development that began in the late 1980s has become a norm, with the emerging need for resilience in our communities and development planning. Sustainability focuses on challenges at present whereas resilience is forecast orientated. We need to aim beyond sustainable development and to make our cities resilient and robust.

Prof.Kazuo Iwamura presented his idea into Life Continuity Plan(LCP) during the event. (Image: BWPI)

In recent years, we have seen natural catastrophes occurring in almost every continent. Impact from these catastrophes demonstrated how unprepared we are to respond to the aftermath. Although blessed to be in a city free from serious natural disasters, Hong Kong experienced the highest annual typhoon events in 2017, including a super typhoon along with experiencing the hottest summer, autumn and the highest hourly rainfall records over the past three years. With these events we experienced the inadequacy of our storm water management system.

One of the biggest challenges in Hong Kong is associated with its peculiar topography, with only 25% built up area accommodating 7.34 million people. According to forecasts, Hong Kong's resident population is projected to increase up to 8.22 million in 2043 and decline to 7.72 in 2066. Is Hong Kong prepared to sustain these fluctuations and stresses on our communities, environment, infrastructure, healthcare systems education systems and economy?

The forum brought together experts from related thematic areas to discuss challenges and actions that need to be taken to improve resilience and robustness in Hong Kong.

Presentations included:

STRATEGY FOR A SMART, GREEN AND RESILIENT CITY UNDER HONG KONG
Ms. Li Chi Miu
Deputy Director of Planning / Territorial, Hong Kong Planning Department.

STEWARDSHIP: RESILIENCE CITIES STRATEGIES AND POLICIES
Dr.Thomas Tang
Director, Kula Lumpur Centre of Sustainable Innovations

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
Mr.Lok Ka Ming
Project manager EnviPro Technology Company Limited

EXPERIENCE OF LANDSLIDE PREVENTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HONGKONG
Prof. Zhongqi Quentin Yue
Dept. of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong

INTEGRATED RESILIENCE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Prof. Kazuo Iwamura
Professor Emeritus, Tokyo City University

SUSTAINABLE UTILITIES FOR A RESILIENT HONG KONG
Mr. Choi CM
Environmental Reporting and Compliance Manager, China Light & Power Ltd. Hong Kong
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Barry Wilson would like to thank Dr. RUFFINA THILAKARATNE (Dept. Of Architecture, Chu Hai College of Higher Education) and Prof. PAUL CHU (Head, Dept of Of Architecture, Chu Hai College of Higher Education) for hosting this event.

The event was held at The Salisbury-YMCA, Hong Kong.

2017/13/11
Publication:
South China Morning Post Publishes Article

2017/10/25
Publication:
South China Morning Post Publishes Article

2017/10/12
Publication:
Construction+ Magazine Publishes Article

2017/09/27
Publication:
South China Morning Post Publishes Article

The new campus at Tuen Mun completed 2016. (Image: chu hai college of higher education)

Chu Hai College of Higher Education (Chinese: 珠海學院) is a private degree-granting institute in Hong Kong. The college is best known for its journalism and Chinese history programmes.[citation needed] At present, Chu Hai College is recognised as an Approved Post Secondary College under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance

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