IFLA World Congress opens in Hong Kong, showcasing waterfront revamps
The International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress is being held in Hong Kong for the first time, drawing over 1,000 participants from more than 80 countries. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn shared examples of the city's waterfront improvements, including the extension of
The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) World Congress is being held in Hong Kong for the first time, drawing over 1,000 participants from more than 80 countries and regions. The three-day event, themed “Marginal Landscapes: Watersheds and Coastlines in Transition,” opened on 28 October.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn addressed the opening ceremony, sharing examples of how Hong Kong has leveraged its unique skyline to create a more attractive, sustainable and liveable city. She highlighted Victoria Harbour as a prime example, noting that over the past 20 years, the government and the Harbourfront Commission have worked together to transform the harbourfront into a more connected, diverse, vibrant and accessible space.
Linn said the total length of the Victoria Harbour waterfront promenade has increased from 23 km in 2020 to about 33 km. With the full opening of the East Coast Boardwalk last year, the 13-km-long waterfront on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island has been fully connected.
She also cited the Tsui Ping River revitalisation project in East Kowloon, which turned a one-kilometre-long nullah into a river; the Tung Chung eco-shoreline project, which introduced innovative designs to sea walls to enhance biodiversity; and the Tseung Kwan O South Park, which integrated sponge city and water-sensitive city concepts into landscape and drainage system designs. Linn said these examples demonstrate Hong Kong’s commitment to addressing climate and urban challenges through sustainable development.