Symposium Explores Community Engagement in Hong Kong’s Built Heritage Conservation

On 13 November 2025, the Master of Cities and Governance (MCG) programme at Lingnan University (Lingnan)’s School of Graduate Studies (GS), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Built Heritage Alliance, hosted a symposium at Lingnan@WestKowloon (M+) titled “From I to We: Why Hong Kong’s Built Heritage Projects Reach Out Beyond Their Boundaries”.

The event featured an opening presentation by Prof Mark Chua, Assistant Professor of the GS, who shared preliminary findings from an ongoing study on the influence of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation on collective action in built heritage conservation projects in Hong Kong. Prof Chua highlighted how these awards are reshaping informal norms in Hong Kong’s heritage conservation sector—encouraging best practices and collaboration of different stakeholders. While the awards offer branding and reputational benefits, their impact varies across sites and resonates most strongly among professionals and scholars.

A dynamic panel discussion followed, featuring Kiki Ko-Li, Chief Executive Officer of Jao Tsung-I Academy, Terence Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association – Mei Ho House, and Winnie Yeung, Advisor of the Hong Kong Built Heritage Alliance. The panellists shared practical insights on collective action and emphasised the critical role of community engagement in ensuring both cultural and economic sustainability. The discussion highlighted diverse community engagement strategies in Hong Kong heritage conservation projects—ranging from grassroots outreach and storytelling to adaptive reuse and cultural programming—all aimed at fostering local ownership and sustainable conservation.

This symposium underscored the importance of collaboration in preserving Hong Kong’s heritage for future generations.