“A summary for this competition: A multi-dimensional appraisal on Our Harbour beyond visual obsessions.”

Managing Director of Edge Design institute, dedicated to the exploration of new ideas in Architecture and Design as well as award-winning multi-disciplinary designs. Gary lectures extensively internationally and was among the first architects from Hong Kong to be presented in the International Biennial Exhibition of Architecture in Venice in 2000. He has published and planned a series of literary works and academic theses including “Suitcase House” (2004), “Hotels As Home” (2005) and “Gary Chang - Edge Works” (2006) by MCCM Creations.

“When I was a child, I used to live near one of the public piers in Hong Kong until I attended secondary school; and hence I grew up right next to the harbour. Our house overlooks the main street to the pier and I used to gaze at the passers-by who were passengers for the ferry. In summer time, my mom and sisters usually took me to stroll along the pier as the harbour breeze would cool the air. There was a store at the
corner of the block where we could get soft drinks and snacks and hence it became a favourite rendezvous of residents nearby. As we were so close to the sea, there were many shops selling seafood in the neighbourhood and we could always get fresh shrimps, crabs or fish for dinner.

This personal experience of the harbour was very important to me. Although I do not now live next to the sea, I still aspire to live in a place where I could see the water. Our harbour is very special to us: if the city with the hills is the backdrop, then the sea is the stage where all our activities would enfold and unfold.”

Director, Centre for Cultural Policy Research and Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, the University of Hong Kong, Dr Hui serves as advisor to several cultural, educational and government organisations. His research interest ranges from architecture, culture and heritage to the creative industries.

“Some people say unrealisable concepts are only dreams. But if they are dreams of the entire world, how can they not be realised?”

Freeman Lau was born 1958 in Hong Kong. He studied in Hong Kong Polytechnic, is now the Partner of "Kan & Lau Design Consultants". Since 1984, he has won over 250 awards in overseas and local art and design competitions.

Apart from his commercial projects, Freeman also exerts genuine assertiveness in fine arts. Freeman was awarded Champion of Sculpture Section in Philippe Charriol's Modern Art Competition in 1992, the Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial Award 1994, the Urban Council Sculpture Design Award 1994, the Urban Council Fine Arts Awards 1998 and commissioned work of arts in the "Public Art Scheme Competition Exhibition 1999"; "Competition on Design of Decorative Works of Art", Hong Kong Central Library and "Mural Design Competition", Hong Kong Heritage Museum. His works of fine arts are included in private collections and collections of the Arezzo - Museum of Contemporary Gold Jewellery Art in Italy, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Urban Council and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. His inherent talents in art was further recognised as he was awarded Winner of the 1997-98 International Fellowship and Residency Program, organised by Mid-America Arts Alliance & United States Information Agency. On the other hand, his recent works has been exhibited in The 8th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, organized by the University of Hawaii Art Gallery; "Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme II - People • Chair: Works by Freeman Lau", organized by Art Promotion Office of LCSD; and "Of Ink and Chairs - Kan Tai-keung + Freeman Lau, Art and Design Exhibition" at both DDD Gallery, Osaka and Shizuoka University of Art and Culture. Two works of art were commissioned in 2001, the "Public Art Project - Installation of Public Artworks at Yat Tung Estate, Tung Chung Area 30-31", organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and through the "Competition of Commemorative Relief Design" at Sir Run Run Shaw Hall, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2004, Freeman's work was awarded "Chair of the Year" in the Chair Design Competition of Barrie Ho Collections.

He is now the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Design Centre, Secretary General of Hong Kong Federation of Design Associations, member of the Design Management Institute Advisory Council and member of the WWF Hong Kong Public Relations Committee.

Throughout the year I find myself looking forward to the new year Harbour fireworks; it is the one event where the whole of Hong Kong gets together and celebrate.

Alice Mak, graduated from the School of Design at the Polytechnic University in 1988. In 1991 she was invited by an Australian publisher to co-author Belinda's Blanket  with renowned children writer Margaret Wild. In the years following, she created the McMug series with co-creator Brian Tze and published Fairy Tales for the Adults, started children's magazine Yellow Bus Magazine in 1996 and licensed a series of McMug related products. In 2001, animation film My Life as McDull received the Best Film Award in Grand Prix Annecy 2001 international animation festival in France and also the Golden Horse Film Award's Best Animation Movie, the McMug comics were translated and released in mainland China. The second movie, McDull, Prince de la Bun , released in 2004, received the Best Film Award from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. The third movie, McDull, The Alumni , was released in early 2006 combines animation with real-life actors.

“I have a wish

Victoria Harbour belongs to you and me; she is Hong Kong’s most precious natural resource. Unfortunately we can only see her. We cannot reach her or touch her because of all the roads and infrastructure acting as a barrier between the harbourfront and us.

I have a wish: I would like a continuous Victoria harbourfront promenade which connects Mount Davis on the west of Hong Kong Island to Siu Sai Wan on the east. There would be no cars; it would be just for us people. Children can cycle, youths can jog, elders can do their tai chi, lovers can stroll in the sunset. With this promenade we will be able to feel the harbour’s pulse and rest to the sounds of her lapping waves.

We do not need to reclaim the harbour to build this. I hope everyone can also share this wish and together we will realize our Harbour Promenade!”

Ms. Ada Ying Kay Wong, JP, solicitor, is Chair of the Wan Chai District Council and an elected Councillor for Wan Chai’s Broadwood Constituency. She was an elected member of the Urban Council from 1995 to 2000. Ms Wong is keenly involved in research and advocacy of cultural and education policies and is actively engaged in cultural, education and community services. She is a Council Member of the Academy for Performing Arts, the Hong Kong Institute of Education and Lingnan University respectively, and founder and chair of several non-profit educational and cultural institutions including the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture (HKICC), Hong Kong Institute of Aesthetic Education and Hong Kong Children’s Musical Theatre. Ms Wong received her BA (Hons) from Pomona College, California and her Master of Education (Distinction) from University of Hong Kong.