CollaborateHK | Vacant Site Activation 1002: A Step-to-Step Guide to Reimagining Community Space concluded with success! 

With the hope to translate community aspirations into feasible action plans, our workshop strives to offer opportunities for knowledge exchange and network building between built-environment professionals, government officials, NGOs and the general public. Thanks to the guest speakers and over 120 participants from all walks, the Vacant Site Activation 1002 workshop was successfully held on Oct 23. 

The event began with sharing from CollaborateHK’s Co-founder, Mr. Chris Law and Mrs. Margaret Brooke on CollaborateHK’s recent projects and takeaways from our work over the past 3 years. Together we explored and reimagined the endless possibilities of community space in our city.

From ideas to implementation, first step is to understand the existing policies that support site activation project. To encourage NGOs to take up the government vacant sites and school premises on a short-term basis, Development Bureau has set up a 60-million funding scheme which supports NGOs’ site restoration and consultancy cost on vacant government sites; 

while Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office provides “First-stop and one-stop’ Consultation & Co-ordination Services” to enhance land application’s transparency. 

The vacant site’s locational context, conditions and proposed project will lead to different technical factors for consideration. The third session invited speakers from 6 professional institutes to share introductory know-how on architecture, planning, landscape architecture, surveying, engineering and urban design disciplines. For example, the requirements of Emergency Vehicular Access on General Building Plans Submission, procedure of planning applications, policies related to tree management, common tenancy clauses, factors to consider for the provision of basic infrastructure, and ways to practice participatory design in projects, etc.

We are delighted to see that different NGO practitioners have brought up their land activation ideas and seek for professional advice during the workshop. There are also interested individuals eager to explore how they can contribute to these projects. As a platform to empower bottom-up place activation initiatives, we will continue to join hands different sectors to deliver more placemaking projects. 

Hope to see you at our next event! 

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Founded in 2018, CollaborateHK is the first ever not-for-profit advisory and collaboration platform which facilitates the implementation of bottom-up placemaking initiatives in Hong Kong. Thanks to everyone’s support, our 3 year-old platform has been approached by over 100 community groups in different fields to further their placemaking proposals. Several projects have also submitted land application, obtained government support, and secured infrastructure funding for actual implementation. Despite their shared passion, we frequently hear that community groups struggle to address technical challenges evolved from their proposal – from site selection, layout design, structural investigation all the way through license application and operation maintenance. These become mounting barriers that demotivate service groups to put ideas into action, even if they see a need in society.

In view of the overwhelming demand for capacity building opportunities, CollaborateHK is hosting “A Step-to-Step Guide to Reimagining Community Spaces” Workshop 1002, as a continuation of last year’s “Vacant Site Activation 1001” series. The workshop strives to create an open environment for creative exchange and network building between built-environment professionals, government officials, NGOs and the general public. Speakers from 6 professional institutes will share introductory know-how on architecture, planning, landscape architecture, surveying, engineering and urban design disciplines. Officials from the Development Bureau and Policy Innovation and Coordination Office will also introduce relevant government policies and funding schemes that support the good cause.

We welcome everyone with an urge to champion, initiate and support bottom-up neighbourhood improvement initiatives to join us. Let’s collaborate and together, reimagine possibilities that our city deserves!

[Event Details]
Date: 23 Oct, 2021 (Sat)
Time: 10:00 - 18:00
Venue: S421, 4/F, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Language: Cantonese (English simultaneous interpretation available)
Target：Anyone with an urge to champion, initiate and support bottom-up neighbourhood improvement initiatives
Fee: Free of Charge

[Event Rundown]
--------------------------------AM Session---------------------------------
09:30  AM Session Registration
10:00  Welcome Speech
　　　“Reimagining Community Spaces Through Collaboration”
　　　(Mr. Christopher Law & Mrs. Margaret Brooke, Co-founders, CollaborateHK )
10:45 "Introduction on PICO’s “First-stop and one-stop’ Consultation & Co-ordination Services"
　　　(Mr. Wong Hon Ming & Dr. Kaizhi Liu, Senior Project Manager & Project Manager, Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office )
　　　"Introduction on DevB’s Funding Scheme to Support the Use of Vacant Government Sites by NGOs"
　　　(Mr. Jackie Liu, Principal Assistant Secretary (Planning & Lands), Development Bureau)
11:15 "Architecture & Layout Design"
　　　(Mr. Donald Choi, President, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects)
　　　"Town Planning & City Development "
　　　(Ms. Clarice Ho & Ms. Mandy Wong, Chair & Member of Community Planning Committee, The Hong Kong Institute of Planners)
13:00  Lunch Break
--------------------------------PM Session---------------------------------
14:00  PM Session Registration
14:30 "Landscape Design & Tree Management" 　　　
　　　(Mr. Paul Chan, Vice President, The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects)
　　　"Engineering & Infrastructure"
　　　(Ir Aaron Bok, Senior Vice President, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers)
　　　 "Leasing Particulars, Cost Estimation & Project Management"
　　　(Sr Edwin Tang, President, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors)
　　　"Enhancing Liveability Through Participatory Design"
　　　(Mr. Benny Chan & Ms. Sunnie Lau, Vice President (Local Affairs) & Hon. Secretary, The Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design)
17:50  Closing Remarks
18:00  End of Programme