2017-06-07

[Press Release] Hong Kong Green Building Week 2017: Green Ambassador Pitch – English Speaking Contest

Hong Kong Green Building Week 2017

Green Ambassador Pitch – English Speaking Contest
Secondary School Students Impressed Renowned Green Building Experts

Act on Climate Change – Together, Now!

 
Hong Kong, 7 June 2017 — A group of environmentally concerned Form 6 students with an innovative mind were brought together at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this afternoon (7 June) to take part in the English speaking contest Green Ambassador Pitch, a programme of the Hong Kong Green Building Week (HKGBW) 2017. The contest, co-organised by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), is a brand new programme HKGBW 2017. The theme of the contest is “Act on Climate Change – Together, Now!”. It aims to raise students’ awareness of climate change. A total of 17 students formed six teams and joined the contest. During the international green building mega event World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2017 Hong Kong (WSBE17 Hong Kong), student teams presented their ideas on how to get the people around them involved in combating climate change to the judging panel and green building experts from all over the world to compete for the Best Presentation Award.

Participating teams were from Buddhist Sin Tak College, CCC Heep Woh College, Diocesan Girls' School, Immaculate Heart of Mary College, NLSI Lui Kwok Pat Fong College and Ying Wa Girls' School. To prepare for the contest, students researched the topic and attended workshops on 20 and 27 May to learn more about climate change, green building, community green works and English presentation skills. Many of the young participants were experienced in debate and public speaking. They were composed and self-assured even when presenting to international experts, and put up a brilliant display of ideas. In the end, Ying Wa Girls' School came out as the winner, taking home the Best Presentation Award.

Mr CHEUNG Hau-wai, Chairman of the CIC ZCB, was amazed by the outstanding performance of the students, "The CIC fully supports the programme as we believe it is a great summer event for students to learn more about climate change and green building. The students’ performance showed that they are very well prepared, and able to put what they have learned into practice. I hope the contest has inspired the students to think more about the environment, especially the role of buildings in mitigating climate change. I also hope they would support green building development, practise the essence of green building in their day-to-day life and encourage the people around them to change their behaviours, starting with daily habits like saving energy and reducing waste.”

Another member of the judging panel, Sr Bay WONG, Chairman of the HKGBC, was impressed by the students’ ideas, “We should all make an effort to help protect the environment, and it is equally important to motivate the people around to join them. This contest is a good start. I hope students can make good use of what they learned to do something for the environment. They can start with themselves, and then spread the influence to their families, friends, and even the local community, so that combating climate change will become a city-wide movement.”

Other members of the judging panel were Mr Curt GARRIGAN from the United Nations Environment Programme and Mr Tony IP from Friends of the Earth (HK). The judging panel scored the teams based on their presentation skills and the presentation content’s relevance to the theme, feasibility and creativity. Audience voting also formed a part of the scores. The Ying Wa Girls' School team got the highest overall score and won the Best Presentation Award.

Photo Captions

Photo 1: DSE students from six schools were brought together at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the venue of WSBE17 Hong Kong, to take part in the Green Ambassador Pitch and discuss how to get the people around them involved in combating climate change.
 

Photo 2: The Ying Wa Girls' School team won the Best Presentation Award with their outstanding performance.
 

Photo 3: Judging panel members Mr CHEUNG Hau-wai (first left, top row), Sr Bay WONG of the HKGBC (centre, top row), Mr Curt GARRIGAN of the United Nations Environment Programme (second left, top row) and Mr Tony IP of Friends of the Earth (HK) (second right, top row) with the participating students.

About Hong Kong Green Building Week 2017

First launched in 2013, the Hong Kong Green Building Week (HKGBW) is an annual territory-wide campaign co-organised by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the HKGBC to promote green building development, boost public awareness on green lifestyle, and drive behavioural change through a series of programmes. This year, the Hong Kong Green Building Week is tied in with the green building mega event World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2017 Hong Kong. From 20 May to 7 June 2017, a variety of programmes would take place to promote and raise public awareness of green buildings, encourage members of the public to practise green living and change their habits and lifestyle for the better and greener. Programmes of HKGBW 2017 include:
  • Green Ambassador Pitch – English Speaking Contest for Secondary School Students
  • “Hong Kong – My Green City” Drawing Competition for Primary School Students
  • Green Building Open House and Tours
  • Online campaign: games and promotions
To learn more about the programmes, please go to:

Website of the Hong Kong Green Building Week 2017: www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/gbw.aspx

Facebook page of HKGBC: www.facebook.com/hkgreenbuildingcouncil

HKGBW 2017 is fully funded by the CIC.
 
About the Organisers

Construction Industry Council

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) was formed in 2007 under the Construction Industry Council Ordinance (Cap. 587). The CIC consists of a chairman and 24 members representing various sectors of the industry including employers, professionals, academics, contractors, workers, independent persons and Government officials.

The main functions of the CIC are to forge consensus on long-term strategic issues, convey the industry's needs and aspirations to the Government, provide professional training and registration services, and serve as a communication channel between the Government and the construction industry.

Please visit www.cic.hk for further details.

Hong Kong Green Building Council

The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) is a non-profit, member led organisation established in 2009 with the vision to help save the planet and improve the wellbeing of the people of Hong Kong by transforming the city into a greener built environment. The Founding Members of the HKGBC include the Construction Industry Council (CIC), the Business Environment Council (BEC), the BEAM Society Limited (BSL) and the Professional Green Building Council (PGBC). Its mission is to lead the market transformation by advocating green policies to the Government; introducing green building practices to all stakeholders; setting design, construction and management standards for the building profession; and promoting green living to the people of Hong Kong.

To learn more about the HKGBC, please visit www.hkgbc.org.hk.

Press Contacts
 
Bonnie LAM
Betake Marketing (HK) Limited
Tel: +852 6890 2682 / +852 2730 3138
Email: bonnie@betake.com.hk
Eman LEUNG
Betake Marketing (HK) Limited
Tel: +852 9773 0728 / +852 2730 3138
Email: eman@betake.com.hk