The perception of Cheung Chau residents towards storm surge is studied through observation, scoring, interview and questionaire. The distribution pattern of perception is examined and reviewed in order to conclude the push and pull factors in affecting people's choice of location of residence. The perception of storm surge acts as a proxy for the perception of tsunami in Cheung Chau. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Opportunities and Risks".

Cheung Chau

To understand the major natural hazards in Hong Kong.
To evaluate the perception of Hong Kong citizens on natural hazards.
To analyze the responses of Hong Kong citizens on natural hazards.

To test hypothesis.
To apply sampling methods in data collection.
To use data collection methods such as questionnaire, interview and scoring.
To use choropleth maps and scatter diagrams to process data.

To understand the role of human in complex man-land relationship.

Cheung Chau is an island with numerous coastal landforms. This course aims to understand how atmospheric factor, geological factor, marine factor and human activities affect a coast system. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Managing Rivers and Coastal Environments".

Cheung Chau coastal area

To identify the characteristics of coast and the coastal landform features.
To examine the factors and processes in shaping the coast.

To exercise the sampling methods.
To apply various data collection methods e.g. drawing field sketches and using field equipment for measurement.
To draw beach profile for processing and presenting the morphological data.

To appreciate the beauty of the coast.
Be aware the importance of managing marine resources sustainably and maintaining the safety of marine resources.

Igneous rock, a common rock type in Cheung Chau and Hong Kong, forms a lot of distinctive landforms after a long period of weathering and erosion. Through observing different weathering and erosional landforms, students will analyse how surrounding environment and geology affect the formation of natural landscapes in respect of internal processes and external processes. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Managing Rivers and Coastal Environments” and “Dynamic Earth”.

Little Great Wall to Nam Tum

To observe the geology in Cheung Chau.
To understand the physical landscapes along Little Great Wall to Nam Tum in Cheung Chau in relation to internal and external processes (weathering, erosion and mass wasting).

To practise geological fieldwork techniques.
To measure the weather conditions by field equipment.

To appreciate and cherish the invaluable geological resources.

Different fluvial landforms are formed along the rivers according to the changing of fluvial processes from the upper course to the lower course. At the same time, they are also subjected to the impacts of human activities. By collecting data of fluvial processes in River Silver in Mui Wo and comparing the data collected to a typical river, students will have better understanding on fluvial processes and the impacts of rural development. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Managing Rivers and Coastal Environments”.

River Silver, Mui Wo

To identify the characteristics of river courses and the associated landforms.
To relate the exogenic fluvial processes with the characteristics of river courses and the associated landforms.
To analyze how human factors (river management strategies and land use) affect the characteristics of river courses.

To collect field data by appropriate equipment.
To draw the cross section.

To appreciate the natural beauty of rivers.
To respect and treasure the intimate relationship between rivers, ecosystem and settlement.
Aware the importance of water quality to water resources of China and H.K.

The river characteristics as well as stream quality may change along with the development of rural areas. By comparing the water quality and its surrounding areas of the upper course, middle course and lower course of the rivers in Mui Wo, students are able to have an in-depth analysis of the major reasons of water pollution and the related management strategies. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Managing Rivers and Coastal Environments”.

River Silver and Wang Tong River, MuiWo

To understand the fluvial processes with the characteristics of the river courses.
To analyze how human factors affect the fluvial process and water quality.
To study the management strategies of river systems.

To collect data by field equipment and conduct laboratory work.
To draw the cross section.

To concern the effects of urban encroachment on rural environment.
To aware the importance of water quality to water resources of China and H.K.

The government has run revitalisation project in Kai Tak River. The project changed Kai Tak River from nullah to stream. The students will observe the river management strategies and understand the relation with the land use nearby. The effectiveness of the revitalisation project will be assessed. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Managing Rivers and Coastal Environments”.

Kai Tak River (Wong Tai Sin Section)

To understand the usage of the urban stream.
To understand the management strategies of urban stream.
To analyze the relationship between stream and surrounding land uses.
To analyze the effectiveness of stream revitalization.

To master the skills in measuring the width and depth of urban channel.
To classify and record the land use and land use distribution.
To observe the river management strategies and understand their .relationship with the surrounding environment.
To calculate the percentage of land use, draw pie chart and conduct questionnaire survey.

To appreciate the urban stream after revitalization.
To aware the importance of good water quality to China and Hong Kong.

Since the economic restructuring in Hong Kong, the industrial development is diminishing. In this study, it would investigate an industrial district of the past, namely Wong Chuk Hang, to understand the changing industrial location. From the study, it aims to enhance students’ understanding of the theme Changing Industrial Location in the curriculum.

Wong Chuk Hang

To understand the present situation of manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries in the study area.
To analyze the change of manufacturing industry and the factors affecting industrial location of Wong Chuk Hang.

To use appropriate sampling methods to improve the validity and reliability of data collected.
To use various fieldwork strategies to collect first-hand data e.g. land use mapping, categorizing and counting, observation and recording.
To use appropriate statistical graphs to process quantitative data.

To cherish the advantage of industrial development between China and Hong Kong.

Tai Lin Pai in Kwai Chung was an agricultural site in Hong Kong. It developed into an remarkable industrial site more than half century ago. And now the role in Tai Lin Pai is still undergo some changes. From the study, it aims to enhance students’ understanding of the theme Changing Industrial Location in the curriculum.

Tai Lin Pai, Kwai Chung

To understand the current situation of manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries in the study area.
To analyze the changes of manufacturing industry and the factors affecting industrial location of Tai Lin Pai, Kwai Chung.

To use various fieldwork strategies to collect first-hand data e.g. land use mapping, categorizing and counting, observation and recording.
To use appropriate statistical graphs to process quantitative data.

To cherish the advantages of industrial development between China and Hong Kong.

Urban development causes different urban problems. This course allows students to test the validity of the hypothesis of the relationship between the urban problems in Cheung Chau and its distance from the city centre by applying choropleth map. Other factors of the spatial variation are also discussed. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Building a Sustainable City”.

Cheung Chau downtown

To investigate the relationship between urban problems and distance of town centre of study area.

To assess the level of urban decay.
To draw choropleth maps.

To develop students’ awareness of urban problems and sustainable development.

Mui Wo used to be one of the most popular agricultural areas in Hong Kong. During the recent decades, the agricutlrual systems in Mui Wo are undergoing a series of changes due to the interactions between rural and urban development. This course aims to investigate the functioning of current agricutlrual systems so as to understand the rationales in the changes of agricultural systems. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Combating Famine”.

Agricultural areas near Mui Wo Town

To understand farming system (Conventional farming and hydroponics).
To examine how urban development affects farming activities .
To assess the feasibility of sustainable farming development through application of modern agricultural technology.

To classify land use in various agricultural areas.
To conduct laboratory works of water samples.
To analyse second-hand data.

To develop students’ awareness of the development of sustainable farming.
To understand the impact of farming activities on the ecological environment and our responsibilities.
Be aware the importance of sustainable farming development to the national food supply security.

Mui Wo used to be one of the most popular agricultural areas in Hong Kong. During the recent decades, the agricutlrual systems in Mui Wo are undergoing a series of changes due to the interactions between rural and urban development. This course aims to examine the operation of agricutlrual systems so as to understand the rationales in the changes of agricultural systems, and investigates how the local farmers in Mui Wo tackles the major constraints and difficutlies encountered. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Combating Famine”.

Agricultural areas near Mui Wo Town

To understand the operation of agricultural system (conventional farming and hydroponic system).
To examine how urban development affects conventional agricultural activities.
To evaluate the feasibility of modern technologies to overcome the agricultural constrains encountering in Hong Kong.

To exercise sampling methods.
To apply various field data collection methods, such as scoring, mapping and interview.
To conduct chemical testing of soil and stream water quality.
To analyse second-hand data.

To develop students’ awareness of the development of sustainable farming.
To understand the impact of farming activities on the ecological environment and our responsibilities.
Be aware the importance of sustainable farming development to the national food supply security.

By comparing and contrasting the characteristics between woodland and grassland through a series of laboratory work, students explore the interrelationship among biotic components and abiotic components in the ecosystem. This study helps students to have a more thorough understanding of the importance of tropical rain forest. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Disappearing Green Canopy”.

Chi Ma Hang Road, Cheung Chau

To understand the characteristics of abiotic and biotic components of a woodland ecosystem.
To understand the structure of woodland and the characteristics of plants in woodland.

To collect data collection of vegetation and soil.
To compare and analyze first-hand data.

To cherish the interdependence of human and natural environment.
To nurture students’ concern of the tropical rainforest and awareness of the importance of protection of tropical rainforest on safeguarding national ecological security.

By comparing and contrasting the characteristics between woodland and grassland through a series of laboratory work, students explore the interrelationship among biotic components and abiotic components in the ecosystem. This study helps students to have a more thorough understanding of the importance of tropical rain forest. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Disappearing Green Canopy”.

Chi Ma Hang Road, Cheung Chau

To understand the characteristics of abiotic and biotic components of a woodland ecosystem.
To understand the structure of woodland and the characteristics of plants in woodland.
To understand human interference on woodland environment.

To collect data collection of vegetation and soil.
To compare and analyze first-hand data.

To cherish the interdependence of human and natural environment.
To nurture students’ concern of the tropical rainforest and awareness of the importance of protection of tropical rainforest on safeguarding national ecological security.

Subject to physical factors and human factors, weather varies a lot. This course allows students to collect weather information from different field sites in Cheung Chau. Through hypothesis testing, the collected data is used to reflect the interrelationship of weather elements and the reasons for regional weather differences can be induced. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Weather and Climate”.

Cheung Chau

To understand the weather elements and the factors contributing to the weather differences.
To examine how the natural factors and human activities affect weather.

To use different field equipment to measure weather elements.
To compare the weather data of different field sites in Cheung Chau.
To draw broken-line graph of different weather data.

To be sensitive to the changing environment around us.

Lai Chi Chong is a field site rich in geological characteristics. It is also one of the famous Geoparks in Hong Kong. Geotourism is a new trend in sightseeing; its success still depends on the collaboration of different stakeholders. In this course, students explore the opportunities and difficulties of geotourism through issue-based learning. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Dynamic Earth”.

Lai Chi Chong, Sai Kung

To examine the underlying factors and processes in shaping the geology and geomorphology of the study area.
To investigate the possibility of development of geotourism in the study area.

To practise skills of geology field work.
To inspire different angles of critical thinking.

To cherish the invaluable geology resources in Hong Kong.

Cheung Chau is characterized by unique transport modes which are mainly walking and bicycle. In this course, students will investigate the factors affecting the spatial variation of transport system and transport modes through field observation and data collection. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Transport Development, Planning and Management”.

Cheung Chau downtown

To study the traffic and pedestrian flow.
To analyze the interrelationship between the traffic and pedestrian flow and surrounding environment.

To use field observation, measurement and counting skill to collect data.
To understand sampling method to improve the validity and reliability of data collected.

To understand the relationship between the transportation system and social development.

The rapid population growth accelerates the pace of urbanization, which causes the significant microclimatic differences between urban cities and rural areas throughout the world, leading to the “Urban Heat Island Effect”. This course uses various types of equipment to measure the microclimatic elements on the streets in Central, and assess the Urban Heating Index of the field sites by observation and counting, so as to investigate impacts on differences in microclimate due to urban planning and human activities in Central; and then compare with the weather data in Cheung Chau harvested by the automatic weather stations in our Campus, to analyze the differences in microclimate contributed different locational factors. This topic is relevant to the curriculum of “Climate Change”.

Central and Mid-level

To explore the natural factors and human factors contributing the Urban Heat Island effect.
To investigate the relationship between the Urban Heat Island effect intensity and urban environments.
To assess the mitigation and adaptive measures dealing with Urban Heat Island effect.

To apply various sampling methods.
To use different field equipment to measure microclimatic elements.
To have observation, counting and scoring to assess the surrounding urban settings.
To draw graphs to display different microclimatic data; and the correlation of Urban Heat Island effect intensity with the urban environments.

To raise the public awareness to the Urban Heat Island effect.
To understand the impacts of urban development on the ecological environment and our responsibilities.
Be aware the challenges to national security imposed by global climate change due to urban development.