Hong Kong is small in size, covering just 1,100 km², but various factors throughout history have attracted countless people to immigrate to Hong Kong. As a result, Hong Kong's population has reached over 7.5 million as of August 2024, making it a unique high-density city in the world.
At the same time, Hong Kong is also home to a wealth of native flora and fauna. Some of these habitats and species are particularly valuable and representative. It is the habitat of more than 550 species of birds, 200 species of butterflies, and 1,000 species of marine fish, among others. Some of these species are the original inhabitants of Hong Kong and have lived here even earlier than many Hong Kong people.




To maintain sustainable development, it is very important for humans and all living organisms to coexist harmoniously on this piece of land. To help students understand how to achieve sustainable development through effective management methods, students who have taken the course "Understanding Environmental Issues in HK" under the Geography and Resources Management (GRMG) Concentration Studies visited Sha Lo Tung, Tai Po. They exchanged views with Green Power colleagues who are now managing the area for nature conservation. During the visit, students not only enjoyed the scenery of Pat Sin Leng Country Park but also learned about the wetlands, rivers, fung shui woodlands, and creatures living in Sha Lo Tung. They also understood the disputes between nature and development faced by Sha Lo Tung in the past, as well as the government’s decision to resolve the dispute by exchanging land with the landowner. Most importantly, nature-based human management—such as the restoration of wetland ecosystems and support for local communities in organic agricultural activities—should effectively conserve this precious wetland.

Ms. Christina Chan, the course lecturer, said, “Field visits to Sha Lo Tung can provide students with a first-person experience to understand the challenges and opportunities facing environmental issues in Hong Kong. These experiences cannot be learned from textbooks or classroom explanations".