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(Letter from Professor Michael Hui, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, to staff, students and alumni, dated 9 March 2006) Our Mountain Home Colleagues, Students, Alumni, What was a barren hilltop forty years ago has become CUHK's verdant campus. Its beauty is the fruit of efforts by colleagues over many years, planting trees and flowers and caring for the environment. The University is proud of its campus and will continue to do its utmost to preserve its unique beauty. Several days ago, the CUHK Student Union released a signed statement, “Protect Our Mountain Home”(the Statement). We support the students' high level of environmental awareness and their concern for the campus environment. However, a number of issues raised in the Statement show an incomplete understanding of the actual situation. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify and explain the situation to the University community. 1. The Flame Tree (Delonix regia) at the University Station The University KCR Station is an important transport hub for the University, a busy interchange used by many pedestrians and vehicles. When the University hosts a major event, the area becomes even more crowded and it is often the case that people and vehicles vie for use of the road. In 2003 the University began drawing up plans to improve the site, first setting up a user committee including staff and students, experts from campus, architects from the Campus Development Office and representatives from the colleges. The committee formulated plans, made recommendations and held open consultation sessions to invite comments from students. The project plans were also published on the web, so that the University community could post opinions. The University was pro-active in making the well-being of the flame tree outside the station an important consideration in the improvement project. Strict supervision was in place during the work so that the tree would not be affected. A gravel layer was added to provide protection for the root area of the tree. Now the construction work is complete; the flame tree continues to flourish unaffected. A deciduous tree, the flame tree is affected by the changing seasons and remains dormant when the temperature drops below its ideal growing temperature range of 23-30 °C . There are four other locations on campus where flame trees of a similar age can be found. They are now also dormant, awaiting spring and summer, to bloom again.
2. Slope Reinforcement Work Opposite the Ho-Sin Hang Engineering Building The University is built on hillsides and there are many dangerous slopes. Government regulations stipulate that the University must reinforce, survey and maintain these slopes to ensure on-campus safety of staff and students. The University has thus commissioned professional consultants to conduct studies on the slopes on campus; reinforcement work will be undertaken as needed. Because the slope opposite the Fulton Centre had collapsed earlier, and the hillside facing the Ho-Sin Hang Engineering Building is also in danger of collapsing at any time, the University must urgently undertake the reinforcement of these sites in order to prevent Chung Chi Road from caving in. Yet, constraints of the terrain make it impossible for construction vehicles to access the slope at Fulton Centre to carry out work directly. The University has therefore commissioned an engineering company to appraise the site and seek a solution that is safe, has minimal impact on the natural environment and causes the least disruption to normal campus operations. The final decision was to enlarge the existing maintenance road on the slope facing the Ho-Sin Hang Engineering Building to allow vehicular access to these two dangerous slopes. Meanwhile, because the maintenance road has been widened, preventive reinforcement work could be done at the same time on two contiguous slopes facing the Ho-Sin Hang Engineering Building which are also in danger of imminent collapse. No trees have been felled to make way for roads. When work is completed, the site will be returned to its original state. 3. Footbridges The Chung Chi alumni footpath that winds along the streams has been scoured by years of rainfall and covered by quantities of sand and mud. An inspection of the banks of this stream in early 2003 showed multiple areas of collapse and the stream blocked by the resulting mud. During the rainy season, the running water in the streams poses a danger of overflowing and washing away the path, endangering those who use it. Consequently, the University applied environment-friendly methods to the problem, making use of the rocks and sand left by the collapse of the slopes along the streams to repair the banks on either side. The mud was also removed. Further, because of numerous complaints that the footpath is uneven and dangerous to staff, students, alumni and visitors, who might easily fall and injure themselves, the University took the opportunity to install a simple iron handrail between the stone path and the muddy areas so as to prevent pedestrians from losing their footing, particularly on rainy days when the path is slippery. No trees, flowers or plants were affected by the construction of the stone path. Plants beside the path, such as the flowering ginger, are not wild; they are carefully grown and maintained by the gardeners of the Landscaping Section. The Section is responsible for cultivating suitable plants, a small proportion of which have a shorter lifespan – that is why every few years they are replaced by new plants. 4. Lawn at Roundabout at the Main Entrance to the University The grassy roundabout at the main entrance to the University is carefully tended by staff from the Landscaping Section. The original Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), which had been planted there for over a decade, had to be watered twice daily during the summer to stay healthy. However, the soil layer had hardened and thinned with age, hence, despite meticulous gardening care, the grass kept withering and dying. Therefore, in early 2005, the soil was replaced, made deeper, and the whole patch was replanted with Zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica), also known as Taiwan grass in Chinese. Commonly used for turf in football fields and public parks in Hong Kong , Taiwan grass grows easily. It is also being used for the University's Sir Philip Haddon-Cave Sports Field. Since the replanting in early 2005, an automatic sprinkler system has been installed and after a three-month incubation period (during which visitors were temporarily forbidden to walk on the grass), the lawn is now flourishing and serves as a backdrop for visitors and graduates to take photographs.
The University is firmly committed to campus greening. The existing concrete roof of the Lady Shaw Building is now graced with beautiful elephant grass which not only cools the rooms on the top floor, but also adds another gleam of green to the campus. This makes the Building a model of sustainable development, energy saving and campus greening. 5. Rebuilding of Li Dak Sum Building To put the University's limited land resources to better use and to improve teaching and research facilities, the University has been allocated funding from the University Grants Committee for the construction of an integrated teaching building. Before undertaking any capital works project, the University gives careful consideration to the conservation of the environment and the ecology. Besides ensuring strict compliance with the environmental protection regulations of the Buildings Office and Lands Office, the University Steering Committee on Environment (USCE), which comprises staff, students and relevant experts, also examines each project and, when necessary, makes recommendations on environmental protection. The proposed rebuilding of the Li Dak Sum Building has followed these same procedures, and has, in fact, observed standards above the regulations currently in force. At present, 18 large trees have been transplanted to a lawn near I-House to ensure that they suffer no impact from the works. 6. Slope at Benjamin Franklin Centre To protect the safety of all members of the University, reinforcement work has been carried out to prevent a slope from collapsing near the Benjamin Franklin Centre. According to the findings of a geotechnical study, a very small number of bushes and shrubs would need to be removed. The reinforced slope will be covered with anti-erosion mat to stabilize the soil and then grass will be planted. In time the slope will be safe and green. 7. Updating Facilities and New Buildings Indoor facilities and equipment must be renewed at regular intervals to keep up with developments in teaching and research as well as increased student enrolment. In designing new buildings, provisions have to be made to fit out the interiors with teaching facilities that support quality learning. Besides, building design must take environmental considerations into account. For example, the facade facing the University Mall of the Centre for Chinese Art and Archaeology currently under construction will be a glass wall. This environmental-friendly design will maximize natural light in the rooms and reduce electricity use. The revolving doors of the University Library also help to conserve energy by maintaining constant indoor temperatures. In addition, exterior walls plastered with cement in the 1970s and tiles in the 1980s are susceptible to erosion by polluted rainwater; a layer of protective paint must be added to prevent serious cracks from forming in the cement and tiles from falling. Building design must move with the times and improve upon past standards. 8. Footpaths Many staff and students choose to walk on campus; therefore, the University has the responsibility to ensure pedestrian safety. Sand and gravel are loose and can easily cause slippage, especially on rainy days. The stones used for pavements on campus have been safety-tested for the best anti-slippage properties. At present many pedestrian walkways and public parks in Hong Kong are paved with cobblestones. These are recyclable stones which can be reused after road repair works. The University cares for all its plants because they have all been nurtured with painstaking attention by the Landscaping Section. Following a detailed inspection by the Section, some trees on either side of the alumni path near the Benjamin Franklin Centre were found to have withered branches in danger of falling. Failure to remove them would pose a threat to passers-by; it would also affect the health of the whole tree, leading possibly to its death. The Landscaping Section had felled the dead trees and removed withered branches; these were not discarded as refuse but were put to landscaping uses, in tune with nature.
9. Slope outside the Chinese Medicinal Plants Garden The palm trees ( 葵 ) growing on the slope outside the Chinese Medicinal Plants Garden are not there to stabilize the soil; they were planted by the Institute of Chinese Medicine and the Landscaping Section. However, a year after they were planted, an inspection by professional consultants found the slope to be dangerous and in need of reinforcement. The situation was not, as claimed by the Statement, caused by having an insufficient number of palm trees ( 陰葵 ) to hold the soil. The fact is, due to reinforcement works, all palm trees ( 陰葵 ) originally on that particular slope have been transplanted inside the Chinese Medicinal Plants Garden , where they have continued to flourish intact.
10. Work on the Dangerous Slope on Pond Crescent A survey of the slope at Pond Crescent conducted by professional consultants found its current safety index to be 1.084, below the Geotechnical Engineering Office standard of 1.4. According to government regulations it was assessed as Category 2, requiring urgent attention. As the responsible party, the University must proceed immediately to reinforce the dangerous slope and prevent a collapse, in order to ensure the safety of the whole community. Since this section of road is near the University Station, large numbers of staff and students use it regularly to go to Chung Chi for classes; it is also used constantly by large numbers of school buses and other vehicles. However, the road here is relatively narrow and falls below current safety standards for vehicular traffic. Drivers must yield to oncoming traffic from both directions, especially when large trucks are involved. And as only one side of the road has a pedestrian walkway, pedestrians often step into the road when it gets crowded. This creates a dangerous situation in which pedestrians and vehicles compete for use of the road. The University therefore hired professional consultants to devise a plan to reinforce the slope, bringing it into compliance with safety standards, to widen the road to allow traffic from both directions to pass safely, and to add a wider pedestrian walkway next to the Esther Lee Building, allowing pedestrians to walk directly from the station to the Building without crossing the road. This plan would alleviate the traffic problem while ensuring pedestrian safety. Currently, government response is being sought for these projects. Improved Administrative and Monitoring System The University has adopted the following measures in order to construct an improved administrative framework, draft environmental protection policies, ensure compliance with relevant government regulations, enforce and monitor environmental policies and strengthen green education: 1. A University Steering Committee on Environment (USCE) has been formed, chaired by Professor K.C. Lam. Members of the committee include professors from the biology and architecture departments, college representatives, colleagues from the Campus Development Office and the Estates Management Office, administrative personnel, students and relevant experts. The committee is responsible for setting environmental policy and coordinating environmental protection work on campus. The USCE will make recommendations for the actual implementation of environmental protection based on individual circumstances. All construction projects at the University must comply with the policy set by the USCE. 2. The University Safety and Environment Office (USEO) coordinates with different university departments to implement plans for protecting and improving the environment. 3. Each college has also formed an environment committee for the common purpose of promoting green education and strengthening environmental awareness among students. 4. The University has appointed over 100 energy coordinators from various departments to promote energy saving knowledge to colleagues and students, and to help improve energy efficiency on campus. 5. A building committee or users' committee will be set up to give careful consideration to environmental factors before a final decision on any project can be issued. In fact, expert opinion has been sought on ecological concerns on the work site for each university construction project, and further, through the Buildings Department, permission to carry out the work is obtained from relevant departments including the Lands Department and the Department of the Environment. The University complies with government guidelines in transplanting or undertaking to replant trees and plants affected by construction projects, and carries out supplementary planting in excess of quota near the original site to ensure green surroundings are maintained or enhanced. Ongoing Efforts in Environmental Protection Every flower and blade of grass, every leaf and tree at CUHK is there by design, not happenstance, the result of careful nurturing by generations of colleagues and students. The beauty of the campus is treasured by all members of CUHK. The University puts every effort into promoting green education, through courses and the general education curriculum. For the past five years an Environmental Protection Week has been held, with a variety of events jointly organized by the University and different student environmental protection groups, strengthening green awareness among staff and students. CUHK has also taken the lead to implement a large variety of environmental protection measures, ensuring preservation of the campus on many fronts, valuing our limited resources: 1. CUHK is the first tertiary institution in Hong Kong to conduct an audit of its campus environment, issuing an annual report based on that audit. This serves as a self-assessment of the campus environment with constructive recommendations for continuous improvement. 2. As early as 1999, CUHK had set up a campus energy efficiency committee, to coordinate conservation of electricity and other resources by every department, and furthermore to pro-actively introduce energy efficient equipment and self-regulating systems. In a matter of a few years, CUHK has reduced its electricity usage by ten percent, and has achieved the lowest average energy consumption among tertiary institutions in Hong Kong . 3. Since 2000, CUHK has taken the lead in installing diesel oxidation converters as emission reduction devices in its school buses. The Estates Management Office has also adopted environmental-friendly electric scooters to reduce fuel consumption. 4. CUHK fully supports the use of renewable energy. The University took the lead in 2004 to complete the first phase of the installation of a solar-powered water heating system in the United College's Cheung Chuk Shan Amenities Building . The second phase of this project, completed in 2005, was on a larger scale with 21 solar-powered water heaters installed on the roof of the University Sports Centre. The solar heating duct employed is different from the older type of solar-panels and is much more efficient. On sunny days the temperature of the water can reach 90 °C ; following temperature adjustment, the water is provided to the Sports Centre and for showers in the Kwok Sports Building . Additionally, the Solar Garden in the Lady Shaw Building is equipped with a photovoltaic panel accumulator and its hydraulic ram pump. 5. The University has pro-actively initiated a policy of environmental room temperature; asking offices to set the air-conditioning at 25.5 °C during summer months. 6. CUHK has always worked to promote a policy of recycling and waste reduction. There are 65 strategically located sites on campus for collection of recyclable materials. Three times per week waste paper, metal and plastic materials and toner cartridges are collected. Collection of waste paper in office has increased by 30% with the placing of some 2,000 desk-side collection boxes. In 2004-05 alone, 325 tons of waste paper was collected, a five percent increase over the preceding year. In addition, CUHK has implemented many more recycling schemes, such as recycling of clean plastic bags, rechargeable batteries, old clothes, books, toys, charitable recycling schemes and so on. 7. Tender invited by the eight tertiary institutions this year have asked suppliers to provide recycled office paper, made without chlorine bleach or additives that are not biodegradable. 8. With a green campus and vegetation protection policy strictly in force, nearly 2,300 trees have been planted since 2002. Greater effort to care for protected vegetation has been made, and trees withered or lost in the natural course of things have been replaced; all this is to ensure that our campus remains a place of natural freshness and lush greenery. 9. The University has been pro-active in exploring the possibilities of the paperless office. At present a great many document exchanges and applications are processed online and the university has requested that departments requiring the purchase of new printers and copiers should opt for those with double-sided printing or copying function, making every effort to reduce paper use. Environmental Protection is a Main Feature in the University's Strategic Plan The beauty of the CUHK campus is the envy of many, and an asset in which members of the University take pride. The rich natural heritage is the precious fruit of efforts at preservation sustained since the founding of the institution forty years ago. As the University develops and expands, the population density on campus will continue to increase. We must balance public safety, the ecological environment and the legitimate needs of staff and students as we go forward. Preservation and improvement of our campus environment require shared effort and a long-term plan. The Strategic Plan, released in February 2006 states: In particular, more attention is needed to enhance greenery through the preservation and planting of trees and the conscious protection of grass and lawns. The campus should also become more pedestrian-friendly. Buildings should harmonize with one another and with the terrain. Here I call upon every colleague, student and alumnus to continue to work for the care of our beautiful campus and to support environmental protection! Michael Hui 9 March, 2006
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