Urban Planning of any scale requires knowledge on the many physical and social conditions in the areas being planned for. A well-trained geographer can often provide such data from memory, background knowledge and experience gained through studies in urban geography which covers many of the key subjects important to urban planning (such as problems related to housing, hawkers, land shortage, population, transportation, geology, conservation, environment, preservation of historical buildings and industrial development). If such data are not available, a geographer can immediately organize research to find the needed information, a good geographer is fully equipped to act as an excellent leader in an urban planning team.

At the University of Hong Kong (HKU), my major was Geography and my minor was Economics. At that time, Geography covered a wide range of topics including urban planning, environmental studies and even underground and ground surface building design.

When I was in Year 2 or 3, there was a class taught by a visiting professor on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). My first feeling was that GIS could provide a framework for a smart future.

GIS combines geography, cartography and information technology. When the data is linked with the spatial location, it enables comprehensive geographic data analysis and provides location-based intelligence for better planning, decision-making and improved productivity.

The GIS class enrolled only 20 students and I was fortunate to be one of them. Out of that class, I was the only one who continued in the GIS field after graduation.

It was satisfying to be able to complete the first vegetation map and ecological database for Hong Kong using GIS. The vegetation map is very important to Hong Kong, as it is the first map covering the whole territory of Hong Kong using insights from data. I was very proud to have the opportunity to apply my expertise and knowledge of GIS to contribute to society.

Meanwhile, I also taught GIS for the Master of Urban Design and Master of Landscape Architecture in HKU. Initially, I was satisfied sharing knowledge about GIS, but later I wanted to do more to promote GIS beyond teaching. In 1997, I invested all my savings in a new business to promote GIS in and for Hong Kong. I was determined to create an ecosystem for my students to apply their GIS knowledge to their future careers. By doing so, I could bring innovative technology, innovative people, and creative thinking together to help society solve real problems. 

I am very proud to be a graduate of the Department of Geography at HKU.  If I did not choose Geography as my major study, I would not have the chance to make my dreams come true and make a difference to our beloved Hong Kong.

Geography training in HKU helped me to develop my interest and passion in nature. I studied eight papers in Geography with an emphasis on physical geography and graduated in 1973.  In 1978, I received a government scholarship to study environmental forestry in North Wales and afterwards worked in the HKSAR’s Agriculture and Fisheries Department as a Forestry Officer.

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Since 1978, I have been working in the Agriculture and Fisheries Department on the designation, planning and management of country parks and marine parks. This is a very challenging and meaningful job for geographers. My training in geography enables me to look at the spatial importance of natural habitats and the need to conserve them. Without a background in geography, I might not have been able to receive a scholarship to study abroad and become a Forestry Officer.

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I was privileged to be involved in Hong Kong’s country parks programme, a major nature conservation project which is a great success. It has been well-received by citizens and has won international recognition. We now have some 40% of land area designated as protected areas, which is much higher than many other cities around the world. Hong Kong country parks help to conserve the most important natural habitats for the city’s people and future generations. It is imperative that we ensure their sustainability. I am glad that so far, they have remained intact from urban development, though the threat is always present.

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Geography graduates have a special advantage in nature conservation. We look at things with holistic, social, physical, geomorphological and geological perspectives which can help to ensure regional connectivity and more comprehensive landscape protection. For this reason, when I retired in 2008, I tried to share my experience and knowledge with undergraduates of HKU and CUHK where I taught Protected Areas and their Management and Nature Conservation in Hong Kong, respectively, until 2018. It is my wish to prepare young people to take up the task to manage our protected areas in perpetuity.

Why study Geography? For me, it was to satisfy my curiosity about the places and peoples of the world. I completed my BA (Hons) in 1964 and my MA in 1967, in what was then the Department of Geography and Geology. After obtaining a doctoral degree from the University of British Columbia in Canada in 1972, I was appointed to various positions at McMaster University, from which I retired as Professor Emeritus.  During that time I conducted research and advised students in Hydrology and Water Resources.

In the half century since my graduation, topics within the various fields of Geography have necessarily changed and research techniques have advanced. Concepts fundamental to the discipline, however, steadfastly endure. We study geography at local, regional and global levels, assessing issues from a spatial perspective. A focus on the human-land relationship covers a variety of subjects showing the diversity of physical and human environments and their place in local to international politics and economies. Geography impacts many aspects of our lives, and this broad knowledge base enabled me to participate and play lead roles in cross-disciplinary projects.

Fieldwork injected reality into my studies, sharpening observations and honing alertness in dealing with unexpected contingencies. It facilitated contemplation of my work, be it spent amidst the silent hills of Sai Kung Peninsula or in the vast and remote High Arctic. It enriched interactions with people from all walks of life, whether conversing with villagers in Lau Fau Shan, sharing kumiss with a Kazakh family in Tian Shan, discussing climate change with Indigenous people in northern Canada, or explaining Sahelian droughts to the Emir and his entourage in northeastern Nigeria.

In those distant school and university days, I was inspired by the instructors of different subjects in Geography. Perhaps I have passed on some of that inspiration, as previous students have nominated me for academic awards and an Honorary Doctorate of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo. I trust the HKU Geography Department will continue to inspire, sustain excellence, and evolve successfully to meet new challenges in a changing world.