The first preparatory meeting of the Conservancy Association (CA) was convened by a Scottish lady living in Hong Kong, Agnes B. Black, in May 1968 at her apartment. The first meeting of the CA Executive Committee was held next year. The Chinese name “長春社” was suggested by a painter, Professor Garfield Chao, and was confirmed in October 1968, the accompanied English name was “Evergreen Conservancy” but it soon changed to the present name “The Conservancy Association” the next month.
CA established several committees in the early 1970s such as Education Committee, Tree Planting Committee and Marine Pollution Committee. CA pushed a number of green agendas in early to mid 70s, for example river pollution, conservation of the Maipo Marsh and the pollution of the Indus River caused by the nearby tanneries. Because of the works of CA, the people of Hong Kong began to know about the environmental issues. CA also devoted much of its energy to environmental education of the young people during the same period. A youth seminar was organized in January 1972, The Youth Environment Action Group (YEAG) was formed no later than March. In August YEAG organized the first Youth Environment Forum, a seedbed for the young green leaders of the future. Father Harold Naylor, chairperson of CA Education Committee, attended a forum held in conjunction with the UN Conference on the Human Environment on behalf of CA.
Preservation of historic buildings was one of CA’s aims when it was first formed. In1971 CA tried to persuade the Secretary for the Environment and Hong Kong Tourist Association to do their most to keep old buildings. In 77 CA was concerned about the conservation of Victoria Barrack and Kowloon Railway Station in Tsim Sha Tsui, marking CA’s beginning of campaigning for individual heritage structures.
Besides advocating countryside conservation and antipollution, CA was also concerned about energy issues and the development of nuclear power. CA was one of the founding members of Joint Organization of the Concerned for Nuclear Energy (JOCNE), which was a major player in the campaign against the construction of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. Aside from the anti-nuclear agenda, CA pushes for the prudent use of plastic bags, eco-friendly picnic, cleaning of environment black spots and no MSG. In 1988, CA established the Hong Kong Environment Center within the CA office as the first environmental resource center open to the public.
In the 1990s CA contributed to the general public’s enhanced awareness on conservation topics such as the development of a golf course in Shalotung, air pollution, development in Nam Sang Wai, illegal dumping, wetland conservation in Deep Bay, nature conservation policy and waste management policy. As for cross-boundary issues, in 1992 CA attended the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro and began to push for the implementation and education of sustainable development and Agenda 21 locally. In 1993 CA organized an exchange tour to Beijing and visited Qu Geping, then head of the State Environmental Protection Administration and representative from the Ministry of Forestry. The visit was a precursor to the future conservation projects in China and the “Green Gift to our Beloved Country”
With the start of the new millennium the conflict between development and heritage conservation intensified. CA spent extra effort on the campaigns to preserve various historic structures such as Wan Chai Market, King Yin Lei, Tai Yuen Street Market, Central Police Station Compound, Kom Tong Hall, Old Stanley Police Station and Queen’s Pier and Central Star Pier. Only some of them managed to survive but the voice of the society’s aspiration to conserve the city’s heritage was now loud and clear. Tree conservation also gained acceptance in the same period. Besides pushing for a tree law, CA played a major role in bringing about the establishment of the Tree Management Office, which coordinates the work of the government departments in tree management.
Entered the 21st Century and CA has developed into an organization with over 20 staff members. The areas of concern involve conservation in various aspects:countryside, trees, energy, resources and cultural heritage. CA would continue to safeguard the environmental resources in Hong Kong, China and the World by advocating policies, monitoring the government, promoting environmental education and actively involved in community participation.
