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The Sun Hung Kai Properties’ (SHKP) Reading Club sponsored over 40 students and teachers from seven Hong Kong secondary schools for a study tour to Shenzhen in November. This initiative, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Publishing Federation and part of Shenzhen Reading Month and the “SZ&HK Co-Reading” programme, combined the exploration of aerospace science with the promotion of reading.

SHKP Executive Director Christopher Kwok stated: “Our country has achieved significant advancements in aerospace technology. The study tour featured a variety of engaging activities that allowed the students to explore our achievements in manned space technology, appreciate Chinese culture, and share the joy of reading with their peers in Shenzhen. Through these activities, we aim to broaden the horizons of young people in Hong Kong and foster their sense of patriotism and national identity.”

The participants started their trip at the Space Science and Technology Institute (Shenzhen), where the teachers and students explored exhibits from a space base, gaining valuable insights into the astronauts’ daily routines and inspiring stories. Founded in 2014, the institute is a non-profit organization to facilitate collaboration between the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and the Astronaut Centre of China. 

Next, they visited the “Palace Museum Collections × Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage” exhibition, a highlight of the 25th Shenzhen Reading Month and the “SZ&HK Co-Reading” programme. The exhibition showcased over 10 reproduced paintings from the Palace Museum and nearly 50 art pieces representing Hong Kong intangible cultural heritage (ICH). A selection of books on the national treasures from the Palace Museum and Hong Kong ICH were also on display.

The students also visited the Central Shenzhen Book Mall, the largest such mall on the mainland, where they shared their favourite books with their Shenzhen peers. 

Every November since 2000, the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee has organized Shenzhen Reading Month, a large scale reading event that has attracted over 10 million participants. On 2 November 2024, the “Palace Museum Collections × Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage” exhibition opened in Shenzhen, with SHKP as one of the supporting organizations. SHKP will also sponsor the Hong Kong extension of the “SZ&HK Co-Reading” programme, scheduled for April 2025 at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin, as part of the 2025 Hong Kong Reading+ Carnival.

SHKP is committed to promoting reading. In April this year, SHKP supported the 2024 Hong Kong Reading+ Carnival, a four-day event held at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin, aimed at igniting interest in reading among the young generation. It featured a designated zone for selected publications from Shenzhen, fostering cultural exchange between the two cities. Since 2008, SHKP has provided announce allowances to over 1,000 underprivileged young people to buy books at the Hong Kong Book Fair. To date, more than 30,000 young people have benefitted from this initiative.

Veolia, Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), and CITIC Pacific today held a groundbreaking ceremony for the city’s first privately funded solar farm on a landfill, marking a significant step in the HKSAR Government’s Climate Action Plan 2050. The project is targeted to start generating green electricity in the first half of 2025.

Located on a valley slope at the South East New Territories Landfill in Tseung Kwan O, the solar farm is estimated to generate 1,200,000 kWh of green electricity annually, enough to power approximately 360 households¹. By replacing conventional fuel sources with this renewable energy, it aims to reduce carbon emissions by around 468 tonnes a year, equivalent to the CO2 absorption of about 20,000 trees.

The solar farm will be operated by Green Valley Landfill Limited (GVL) – a joint venture among Veolia, SHKP and CITIC Pacific – who manages the landfill. This initiative, with the full backing of the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), not only provides a sustainable, low-carbon energy solution but also underscores the vast potential for similar solar farms across Hong Kong, supporting the city’s transition to a low-carbon future.

The solar farm will participate in the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Scheme of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited. At the same time, SUNeVision, a subsidiary of SHKP and Hong Kong’s largest data centre provider, will purchase CLP Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) linked to the solar power generated by the solar farm. 

Speaking at the event, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan said, “The carbon emissions in Hong Kong peaked in 2014, and compared to the peak, our carbon emissions today have decreased by nearly 25%. Our carbon emissions per capita is just a quarter of those in the U.S and 60% of those in the European Union. The government has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by half before 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The 1 MW pilot solar farm project at the South East New Territories Landfill, set to be completed next year, will showcase the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors in advancing renewable energy and achieving carbon neutrality.” 

Mr Laurent Pelletier, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Hong Kong & Macau, said, “It is a great example of collaboration between different companies from different industries, Veolia, Sun Hung Kai Properties and CITIC, with the strong support of EPD, to achieve together the decarbonization of Hong Kong. Veolia’s vision fully aligns with Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050. With our strategic program called GreenUp (2024-2027), our activities are centered around 3 main axes: depolluting, decarbonizing, and resource-regenerating solutions through various projects to assist Hong Kong in achieving its carbon neutrality. This project represents a significant step forward in local renewable energy development and environmental protection, showcasing an excellent model of utilising available land. Today’s groundbreaking ceremony marks a significant milestone for us. Veolia looks forward to working closely with the government, our partners, the community, and all stakeholders to promote Hong Kong’s comprehensive transition to a sustainable future.”

Christopher Kwok, Executive Director of SHKP, said, “SHKP has been a strong advocate of solar energy, actively promoting the installation of solar panel systems across our owned and managed sites. We currently manage more than 16,000 solar panels, the largest solar power network in the city. We are immensely grateful for the support from the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department for this project, and we are excited to see the solar farm nearing fruition. In addition to providing civil and builder’s works, we also facilitate collaboration between our companies to supply green electricity, creating a closed-loop ESG model. As a joint venture partner of GVL in developing this solar farm, we have also arranged for our subsidiary, SUNeVision, which is Hong Kong’s largest data centre operator, to acquire CLP RECs 100% linked to the solar power generated by GVL. Looking ahead, we are prepared to develop more large-scale solar farms on vacant sites, such as land under planning and landfills. We strongly believe that the private sector can make significant strides in harnessing solar energy for a sustainable future.”

This pioneering solar farm consists of over 1,800 PV panels, spanning over 100,000 square feet, and features several technological and project execution breakthroughs. The civil engineering work is carefully designed to ensure slope stability and wind load protection. The installation is specifically intended for landfill restoration, which is a unique feature that avoids damaging the landfill liner and protects leachate and landfill gas collection. Furthermore, remote power generation and solar panel performance systems are designed to monitor all operational conditions, ensuring efficient and safe operation. 

¹According to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the average electricity consumption per household per month in Hong Kong is about 275 units. (https://www.emsd.gov.hk/energylabel/en/cal/cal.php)

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) is sponsoring over 2,000 primary and secondary school students and teachers to visit the first Hong Kong Base for Aerospace Science Education in the current academic year, as part of SHKP Reading Club’s Read to Dream programme. The visits seek to deepen the young people’s understanding of the country’s achievements in aerospace technology and strengthen their sense of national identity and pride.  

Officiating the kick-off ceremony today were Liu Maozhou, the First-level Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the HKSAR; Wong Kam-leung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers; Tang Fei, Legislative Council member and Vice President of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers; Dr William Lam, Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Science) of the Education Bureau; Christopher Kwok, SHKP Executive Director; and Yetta Li, Patriotic Education Centre Director. A total of 140 students and teachers from five primary and secondary schools attended the first visit today.

At the ceremony, SHKP Executive Director Christopher Kwok said: “Our country is widely recognized for its exceptional achievements in aerospace technology, including the historic completion of the first lunar far-side sample collection during the Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission. Through the activities under the Read to Dream Programme, we hope to enhance young people’s understanding of the country’s achievements in aerospace technology, arouse their interest in science, and foster their sense of national pride and patriotism.”

Wong Kam-leung, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers Chairman, said: “In his September speech, President Xi stressed that exploring the vast cosmos and building China into an aerospace power is our eternal dream. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 75 years ago, the country’s aerospace technology industry has made significant breakthroughs and is now a global leader. We hope that through these educational visits, students in Hong Kong will have the opportunity to closely engage with these cutting-edge technologies and experience the challenging journey and remarkable achievements of China’s aerospace industry. This will further stimulate their interest in science and technology, motivate them to explore and to contribute to the country’s technological development in the future.”

This year’s Read to Dream programme teamed up with the Patriotic Education Centre, established by the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, to launch a series of aerospace-themed activities, including visits to the Hong Kong Base for Aerospace Science Education. Set up by the Patriotic Education Centre and the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the base has six exhibition zones that demonstrate the country’s advancements in rockets, satellites, lunar exploration and the manned space programme through audio and video displays, simulation models, promoting both patriotic education and aerospace developments. 

The students also visited the National Security and National Education Exhibition Hall at the Patriotic Education Centre to learn about recent developments and the significance of national security. 

SHKP’s dedication to fostering the young generation’s patriotism

To encourage young people to learn about our country’s achievements, SHKP earlier supported the “Meng Xi” InnoTech Promotional Programme by providing free venue space for its roving exhibition across eight high-traffic shopping malls in the city. The exhibition showcases the country’s cutting-edge technologies, inspiring the younger generation to develop their interest in science, thus contributing to the development of Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent as well as fostering a sense of belonging and pride in the country.

In July, the Read to Dream programme provided 1,000 underprivileged students with an allowance to buy books on science or Chinese culture at the Hong Kong Book Fair. It also organized a seminar on aerospace technology, which attracted over 300 students.