Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape wins UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

We are thrilled to announce that our sustainable rural revitalisation project at Lai Chi Wo has been awarded the prestigious Special Recognition for Sustainable Development in the 2020 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The project is built on HSBC Rural Sustainability Programme initiated since 2013 and implemented by the Centre for Civil Society and Governance with full support from the Lai Chi Wo Village and HSBC.

The project is featured in the first line of UNESCO’s official award announcement. The Jury applauded the project’s pioneering approach to rural sustainability which “transforms notions of heritage practice from its conventional focus on material conservation to encompass living heritage in all its manifestations… the project demonstrates the importance of interweaving nature and cultural heritage in setting a new urban-rural sustainability agenda for Hong Kong SAR and beyond.”

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation programme recognizes exemplary conservation efforts by individuals and organizations in the region. To acknowledge more prominently the contribution of cultural heritage to sustainable development within the framework of Agenda 2030, UNESCO in early 2020 introduced the new Special Recognition for Sustainable Development with an updated set of Awards Criteria to recognize outstanding conservation projects that have made significant contribution to sustainable development.

The award is a due recognition of the collaborative efforts of many individuals and organizations who share a strong commitment to sustainability and are undaunted to act on the commitment. We proudly share the honour and joy with Hong Kong Countryside Foundation, The Conservancy Association, Produce Green Foundation, Mr Wong Kam Sing and numerous volunteers and friends who have helped us get through many challenging times. Without the solid partnership, we would not have accomplished the seemingly impossible mission.