CityUHK scholars actively contribute to urban ecological development; Creating a liveable community for Hong Kong
Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is committed to promoting sustainable development and a green environment, providing insights to create a more liveable environment while balancing the needs for conservation and development.
In recent years, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) has been further developing Tung Chung, taking ecological conservation into account alongside development. Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, Associate Dean of the College of Science, Chair Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, and Director of State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (SKMEH), was recently invited to highlight the design features and conservation benefits of the rocky and mangrove eco-shoreline in Tung Chung in a promotional programme led by the Development Bureau and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).
The CEDD has constructed Hong Kong’s first eco-shoreline, stretching 3.8 km-long in the Tung Chung East reclamation area. This coastline mimics the natural intertidal zone, integrating ecological features into the seawall design to provide a suitable habitat for marine life and enhance biodiversity, where preliminary research data shows that the artificial rocky eco-shoreline has attracted nearly 100 species of marine life, demonstrating its significant effectiveness.
Professor Leung participated in designing the eco-shoreline in Tung Chung. He explained that the stepped design of the rocky eco-shoreline caters to the needs of marine life in the high, mid, and low intertidal zones, while it includes tidal pools, rocks, and ecological bricks of varying sizes and depths, providing diverse and favourable habitats for marine life. He also noted that the mangrove eco-shoreline is equipped with an artificial intelligence system for round-the-clock monitoring of ecological conditions.
Since 2016, Professor Leung has collaborated closely with the HKSAR Government to develop and promote innovative technologies and applications for the implementation of eco-shorelines. With support from the Development Bureau and CEDD, Professor Leung has tested, applied, and refined various innovative ecologically engineered features on multiple artificial seawalls in Hong Kong, including those in Ma Liu Shui, Sai Kung, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Lamma Island and Lei Yue Mun.
Earlier, the SKMEH, led by Professor Leung, was presented a plaque by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China as one of the 15 State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong. The laboratory focuses on monitoring and managing new pollutants, assessing and restoring marine ecological health, enhancing biodiversity conservation, and supporting ecological civilisation and sustainable blue economy development.
Please click here to watch the programme (Chinese only).