National Ecology Day 2025 was held today, with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government staging a launch ceremony and symposium to kick off a series of activities themed around environmental protection and ecological conservation.

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific & Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Ye Shuiqiu officiated at the ceremony.

Delivering the opening speech, Mr Cheuk remarked that this year's National Ecology Day, the third such event, coincided with the 20th anniversary of President Xi Jinping introducing the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, and that this made the occasion even more special.

Mr Cheuk emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government places great importance in the country's “ecological civilisation” initiatives, and is working to promote green transformation in society, conserve the natural environment, and strengthen co-operation with the Mainland, in order to build a beautiful China and a beautiful Hong Kong.

At the launch ceremony, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD) signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Rescue Mechanism for Large Aquatic Wild Animals” with the Ocean Development Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

Its aim is to strengthen co-operation between the two places in the rescue of large aquatic wild animals, and to facilitate the sharing of experience and technology in order to improve ecological safety in the waters adjacent to Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

At the symposium, representatives from the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR Governments, and from non-governmental organisations, as well as scholars and experts, exchanged ideas on conservation work and the concept of ecological civilisation.

Various special activities and offers are available from today to September 28 to encourage the public to respond to and participate in this year's National Ecology Day.

More details can be found on the Countryside Conservation Office website, the AFCD’s Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub, and on the websites or social media pages of participating organisations.