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The Urban Systems Institute (USI) and the Department of Urban Planning and Design (DUPAD) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) successfully hosted the First International Symposium on Urban Futures on 22 August 2024 at Rayson Huang Theatre, HKU. The symposium brought together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world to share global experiences and envision the future of livable cities.

The proceedings commenced with opening remarks by Professor SHEN Zuojun Max, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU. This was followed by an address from the officiating guest, Ms LINN Hon Ho, Bernadette, JP, Secretary for Development of the HKSAR Government, who highlighted the government's commitment to sustainable urban development, the latest plans and initiatives, and the importance of this event in cross-sectoral collaboration. Professor HE Shenjing, Executive Deputy Director of USI and Professor and Head of the DUPAD at HKU, then presented a progress report on the institute's initiatives and research directions, including its work on the exploration of the sciences of urban systems and their applications to different contexts.

The morning session included two keynote sessions and a panel discussion. The first keynote session, chaired by Professor HE, featured international experts sharing global best practices. Professor HATTORI Keiro from Ryukoku University and TU Berlin explained that it is people who make cities attractive. He gave an interesting analogy of how people function like yeast to make sake (city attractiveness). Mr NG Larry, former Group Director of the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority, shared strategies in Green Urban Development based on his experience and work in Singapore. He advanced the idea that Hardware, Software and Heartware (the people) are indispensable to create an attractive city. 

The second keynote session in the morning, chaired by Ms CHEUNG Amy, President of The Hong Kong Institute of Planners, showcased local and regional perspectives. Professor YUAN Qifeng from South China University of Technology presented on "Recreating Canton, Building the Pearl River New Town, the 21st Century CBD of Guangzhou", highlighting the transformation of Guangzhou's urban core over the past 20 years, which represents a typical case of urbanisation in Mainland China. Mr KWAN Mike, General Manager (Planning & Design) of the Urban Renewal Authority, unfolded his team’s meticulous practices in Yau Mong district to illustrate how the blue-green resources can be integrated into the urban regeneration in Hong Kong. The session was capped off by a panel discussion moderated by Professor LING Kar-kan, SBS, Director of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), where the speakers engaged in a lively exchange on global experiences and best practices in sustainable housing and city development, drawing insightful comparisons across Hong Kong, Singapore, Japanese, mainland Chinese, and European urban contexts.

The afternoon session "Envisioning the Urban Future" consisted of two keynote sessions, a panel discussion, and a round table. Professor YEH Anthony, Senior Advisor of USI and Chair Professor (Urban Planning and Geographic Information Systems) of DUPAD at HKU, chaired the first keynote session. Professor WANG Lan, Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) of Tongji University in Shanghai, emphasized healthy and age-friendly city planning on different spatial scales, and the sub-topics include cognitive health in elderly communities and smart city transitions in the future healthy cities, taking the example of Healthy community projects in Yangpu District, Shanghai. Dr ALLAM Zaheer, Director of Futures & Foresight Co Ltd, Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University, and Research Fellow at Hiroshima University & Sorbonne University, shared his exploration of the digital pathways and inclusive urban development strategies while highlighting the industrial policy mechanisms in developing economies for sustainable and quality urban living.

The last keynote session was chaired by Professor HUANG Bo, Deputy Director of USI and Chair Professor of Department of Geography at HKU. Mr WILSON Barry, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, examined the factors that could jeopardize a city's ability to stay futureproof, using world-class architectural examples —highlighting both successes and shortcomings. He underscored the need for planners and practitioners to adopt a new mindset, revamp processes, and reshape their visions, with a focus on prioritizing people and fostering a bottom-up approach to future-proof urban development. Professor Su Yunsheng, Executive Vice Dean of Shanghai International College of Design and Innovation at Tongji University, reviewed recent key technological breakthroughs and their relationship with the dominant Moore's Law. He highlighted essential aspects of governing cities to effectively embrace these advancements and address the evolving needs of the people.

A panel discussion moderated by Professor SHI John, DoSCRI & Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics at PolyU, followed, bring together foresight and visions for crafting sustainable and technology-driven urban futures. The final round table discussion "New Paradigm for Future Livable Cities" moderated by Professor YEH Anthony covered various aspects of creating future livable cities, including the challenges faced by Hong Kong's development, the role of technologies like GeoAI and digital tools in sustainable planning, and the importance of objective-oriented planning and community-focused approaches. Speakers from the government, private sector, and academia provided insights on topics ranging from architectural projects, urban renewal, and new community models for more livable cities. The symposium concluded with closing remarks from Professor HE, who emphasised the critical role of education in facilitating communication and collaboration among different sectors and thanked all the participants for their valuable contributions to the event.

This high-profile event provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities faced by cities around the world, as well as innovative strategies and technologies for creating more livable and sustainable urban environments. The diverse perspectives and insights shared will undoubtedly inform and inspire future research and policy directions in the field of urban planning and development.

About the Urban Systems Institute, The University of Hong Kong
The Urban Systems Institute (USI) is a pioneering cross-faculty research institute at HKU, dedicated to advance the sciences of urban systems and the applications of urban systems research. By reunifying the social and natural sciences, USI fosters a holistic approach to exploring the dynamic relationships between urban social and ecological systems. Through experimental research, the Institute bridges classical urban studies with investigations of contemporary, controversial, and futuristic normative systems, linking upstream future city and smart city research with downstream innovations in planning, design, management, and governance. To learn more, please visit our website: Home | USI (hku.hk)

About the Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong
The Department of Urban Planning and Design (DUPAD) at HKU is a leading centre for urban planning education and research in the world. The department is committed to advancing the field of urban planning and design through interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research, and innovative teaching. To learn more, please visit our website: https://www.arch.hku.hk/departments-and-divisions/department-of-urban-planning-and-design/

For the press release with photos.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU
Kit Tang (Tel: 3917 8597 / Email:kittang@hku.hk)