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The “Forest Village – Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong Sustainable Village Programme” organised by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong and supported by the Countryside Conservation Office through its Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme has been promoting villagers and other stakeholders to conserve and revitalise the natural and cultural capitals of rural villages. Through the Programme, the villages will be revived as “Forest Villages”, a common term that describes settlements with forests as the dominant and provisioning habitat, through restoration of farmlands, enhancement of habitats, and adaptive repurposing of village assets.

As part of the Programme, a campsite is being established on revitalised terraces and is the first of its kind in Hong Kong that integrates conservation, village revitalisation and outdoor experiences. The annual highlight of the project, "Forest Village Festival," will be held from December 30, 2023, to January 7, 2024. This year's event focuses on the newly established camping area, accompanied by local cultural, outdoor, and handicraft activities, allowing the public to experience the life of the forest village day and night and learn about the rehabilitation and revitalization of the two villages. The aim is for the public to have a better understanding and then participate in the conservation and construction of the forest village together!

The first day of Forest Fest will feature the "Forest Village Festival 2023" and the opening ceremony of the Forest Village Campsite. We sincerely invite your newspaper/magazine/TV/radio station to send reporters to attend and cover this event, witnessing the opening of a new chapter for the forest village. Miss WONG Shuk Han, Diane, JP, Acting Secretary for Environment & Ecology, will attend the event as an officiating guest.

The details for the day are as follows:

Date: December 30, 2023 (Saturday)

Time: 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM

Location: Mui Tsz Lam, Sha Tau Kok

Event Schedule:

09:00 - Gathering at Ma Liu Shui Pier and take a speedboat to Lai Chi Wo

10:00 - Walk from Lai Chi Wo Pier to Mui Tsz Lam (about 20 minutes)

10:30 - 10:45 - Registration at Mui Tsz Lam Story House, refreshments provided

10:45 - 11:45 - Opening ceremony

12:00 - 13:00 - "Our Home in the Village" musical on the go at Mui Tsz Lam

13:00 - 14:00 - Special snacks provided

14:00 - 14:30 - Walk back to Lai Chi Wo Pier and take a speedboat back to Ma Liu Shui

The speedboat ride takes around 45 minutes between Ma Liu Shui and Lai Chi Wo.

About ‘Forest village - Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong sustainable village programme’:

Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong are two upland Hakka villages located in the northeastern part of New Territories with over 300 years of history. As villagers emigrated away in the past few decades, these once vibrant farming communities embedded in nature have been fading away gradually. Biodiversity and the associated ecosystem services and values in the area will continue to deplete if timely active management is not put in place.

This programme, built upon the principle of environmental stewardship, aims to conserve, revitalise and enhance the natural, cultural and landscape values of Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong. The villages will be revived as “Forest Villages”, a common term that describes settlements with forests as the dominant and provisioning habitat, through restoration of farmlands, enhancement of habitats, and adaptive repurposing of village assets. A collaborative and participatory approach will be employed to engage stakeholders—villagers, members of non- profits, scientists, architects, artists and interested citizens—in an array of conservation activities through which they will acquire knowledge, skills, and commit to taking up the role as guardians of the forest villages.

This is a first-of-its-kind project in Hong Kong that focuses on upland forest conserving both natural and cultural landscapes as an integrated and holistic living heritage. To find out more information about Forest village - Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong sustainable village programme, please visit: https://ccsg.hku.hk/forestvillage/

About the Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU:

Established in December 2002, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (the Centre) strives to enhance our knowledge of civil society and its contribution towards good governance, and to facilitate the attainment of a sustainable society through forging community-based, innovative solutions to inform policy deliberation and collective actions. The work of the Centre is organised around three Labs—the Policy for Sustainability Lab (PSL), the Social Entrepreneurship and Civic Action Lab (SECAL), and the Nonprofits and Philanthropy Lab (NPPL); each of them representing a research focus and an area of excellence of the Centre. To find out more information about the Centre, please visit: https://ccsg.hku.hk/