Hong Kong, self-styled as “Asia’s World City,” is well known as a global business and cultural hub. Studying there was a privilege which allowed me to grow both academically and socially. Hong Kong is also well-positioned as a global travel node, with budget flights across East and South-East Asia. However, the allure of Hong Kong International Airport can be well offset by appreciating all that Hong Kong itself has to offer. The Special Administrative Region is three-quarters countryside (https://www.eeb.gov.hk/en/conservation/conservation_maincontent.html), having as rich an offering in its natural spaces as its famed urban quarter.
Aiming for eco-friendly travel and sustainability on an international placement is not without difficulty. However, from mountain peaks in the New Territories to sandy beaches on Hong Kong Island to coastal paths on the Outlying Islands, Hong Kong is a treasure trove of natural diversity which is both accessible and well-preserved. Forty per cent of Hong Kong’s land is formally designated as Country Parks, providing a framework to protect much of its natural space; continuing to help conserve the territory’s biodiversity while maintaining access for the public’s leisure and education (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2189241/what-you-should-know-about-hong-kongs-country-parks-and-are).
Indeed, focusing on low-carbon activities in the location of one’s placement is an ideal way to help achieve one’s sustainability goals. While some may view Hong Kong’s natural wonders, such as the UNESCO Global Geopark, by helicopter, the best way is also the most sustainable, low-cost, and rewarding: on foot. Undoubtedly, seeing the park’s unique rock formations and stunning coastal cliff views is an unbelievably enriching experience (https://www.geopark.gov.hk/en). What’s more, the numerous opportunities to hike in Hong Kong provide a deeply rewarding way to explore the territory’s natural spaces (https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/hong-kong). In a city well served by public transport, such opportunities are accessible via low-carbon means. This transport infrastructure enables exploration in remote areas without resorting to taxis or car hire, reinforcing the sustainability of activities in Hong Kong’s countryside.
However, promoting sustainability on an international placement is not just about personal pursuit of low-impact activities; it also includes learning from a host country and its people’s efforts to promote sustainability. These lessons endure beyond the placement itself, shaping how alumni of international placements, including myself, approach sustainability in everyday life and when considering its broader issues.
Indeed, Hong Kong’s fusion of urban and rural is a model for UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Moreover, seeking to build one’s travel around exploring a place’s locality aligns with Goal 12: to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns” (https://sdgs.un.org/goals). Exploring and understanding Hong Kong’s synthesis of nature and urban helped me better understand these UN SDGs and ways to promote sustainability in Britain. For example, by encouraging people to access nature locally and ensuring cheap and reliable transportation to such places from urban centres.
Ultimately, my experiences showed me that one can experience a sustainable international placement by enjoying low-impact, sustainable activities and also by learning from a host country’s successful approaches to sustainability.
