Past Events

During the Environment & Sustainability Committee meeting on 10 July 2025, Andy Cornish and Michael Lau from Hong Kong Biodiversity Expert Group discussed the recent public consultation launched by the Government to update the strategic areas and actions for the next phase of Hong Kong’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), as well as the recommendations submitted to the Government.  

The Hong Kong Biodiversity Expert Group – comprising 130 experts from 67 organizations – met over a six-month period to advise on suitable priorities for the next BSAP in the coming years. In its report to the Government, 75 priority recommendations and 65 supporting recommendations have been made.

Dr Cornish and Dr Lau highlighted five priority areas of those recommendations, including initiative large-scale restoration of both terrestrial and marine ecosystem, significant scaling up of protection for Hong Kong’s coastal and marine ecosystems, increasing safeguards to protect Hong Kong’s most endangered species, mainstreaming biodiversity in business to engage the private sector in biodiversity conservation, and strengthening regulations on both legal and illegal wildlife trade.

In view of the latest developments in global and regional conservation initiatives, as well as considering the current local situation, and conditions and opportunities in the national context, the updated BSAP will strengthen Hong Kong’s position in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.