Media

“Counterpart Cities: Climate Change and Cooperative Action in Hong Kong and Shenzhen ”Exhibition and Public Forum

18 Feb 2012

How can the cities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen work collaboratively to address the vulnerability of their infrastructure to the effects of climate change? Counterpart Cities brings together researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and six design teams from both cities to research and propose collaborative responses to the systemic challenges of climate change in the region.

The research and design projects will be exhibited from today (February 18) to March 10 at the Central Market Oasis Gallery with large scale visual material, animations, and models.

Three systems: freshwater networks, port infrastructure, and shoreline ecologies, were identified as critical areas under threat of climate change, but more importantly, planning their future requires collaboration beyond political and administrative boundaries. The research revealed that the freshwater sources in the region are currently under threat due to increased industrialization and modifications to the Pearl River; the port infrastructure of Hong Kong and Shenzhen face great expansion needs to meet the demand of transportation for the Pearl River Delta; and the fragile ecological systems such as Mai Po are battling severe issues of sedimentation.

To meet these challenges, Stefan Al, Director of the Urban Design Program at HKU, and Doreen Liu of NODE Office in Shenzhen tackle the issue of freshwater shortages through imaginative methods of recycling waste water and using it to supplement a new freshwater supply system for the entire Pearl River Delta; Feng Guochuan of Zhubo Architects and Vincci Mak, HKU Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture address the problem of sedimentation in the Deep Bay and turn it into new opportunities for tourism and sustainable development. Tom Verebes, HKU Associate Professor of Architecture and Zhu Xiongyi from CCDI in Shenzhen both reconfigure port infrastructure and its economic activities globally and regionally.

For descriptions of the projects, please visit: http://www.cpao.hku.hk/media/appe.doc .

For enquiries about the project, please contact Ms Dorothy Tang at tel: 2859 2813, or email dstang@hku.hk .

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk  or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.