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(20 Feb 2025, SCMP) This year’s Lunar New Year markets saw around 2.3 million visitors and generated 107 tonnes of reusable waste, including bamboo, wooden pallets and paper. However, the total waste generated was not disclosed, unlike in previous years. In 2024, the markets attracted 2 million visitors and produced 244 tonnes of waste, with 110 tonnes recycled.

The Green Earth visited the Fa Hui market early in the morning on the first day of the Lunar New Year and observed dozens of marquees, several refrigerators and many boxes of uncooked food left behind when the market closed. Despite civil society’s efforts to sort and channel reusable waste, a significant amount of resources still end up in landfills.

From 2017 to 2021, the Environmental Campaign Committee, in partnership with green NGOs, organised the “Green Lunar New Year Fair” programme, helping reduce total waste from 447 tonnes in 2016 to 258 tonnes in 2019. The involvement of green partners was crucial to waste reduction; most importantly, they advocated for policy changes involving organisers, stall tenants and visitors to minimise waste.

Events like the Lunar New Year markets provide an excellent platform for building a green brand for Hong Kong. The Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund subsidised 17 projects with nearly HK$200 million (US$25.7 million), attracting over 4 million participants. Sustainability and low-carbon measures should influence funding decisions.

For example, Manchester’s city council requires organisers of community events seeking funding to complete a sustainability monitoring process and New Zealand’s Major Events Fund requires organisers to have an environmental impact strategy.

To enhance Hong Kong’s brand, the government must prioritise a green image, aligning with international trends in climate action and sustainability. Setting green requirements for mega-events aligns with President Xi Jinping’s reminder that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. China hosted a carbon-neutral Winter Olympics in 2022, and France promised to host the greenest Olympic Games last year.

The Hong Kong government should relaunch the Green Event Guidebook from 2017 and reset the criteria for the mega-events fund based on the guidebook. This will ensure future mega-events are greener and aligned with national and international trends. Coming events, including the 2025 National Games, present an excellent opportunity to elevate Hong Kong’s branding by integrating green elements.

Rico Wong is deputy director of The Green Earth

Source:  SCMP | Boost Hong Kong’s brand with green mega-events