Urban Gardens Shared by Butterflies and People
A night of rain has brought exuberance to the garden. Having landed on the array of multi-coloured flowers, some raindrops are devoting their final hours to the beauty of the petals. Among all the colours emerges a tiny butterfly fluttering about, looking for its first kiss of the day. Some faint music can be heard nearby and you might see, through all the lush greenery, several people dancing and stretching as their daily routine begins. This is a typical scene in the urban butterfly garden, a space shared by people and butterflies.
Although Hong Kong is dense with people and skyscrapers, it might come as a surprise that it is also home to more than 200 species of butterfly. To conserve these beautiful insects and enhance biodiversity, the Environmental Association has, under the sponsorship of Link Together Initiatives, organised the Nature LINK programme this summer. It has set up butterfly gardens in the outdoor area of three Link malls including Kai Tin Shopping Centre in Lam Tin, Choi Ming Shopping Centre in Tseung Kwan O and Chung On Shopping Centre in Ma On Shan. In addition to providing a suitable habitat for the butterflies, the programme also encouraged participation from the neighbourhood through designing and decorating the gardens in their own communities.
From pupa to butterfly: building our own butterfly gardens
At the beginning of this year, the Environmental Association held the “My Garden Competition” to invite design proposals for the butterfly gardens. This summer, local artists had successfully transformed the winning ideas into reality. One of the latest butterfly gardens at Chung On Shopping Centre is themed “A Hymn of Life” and displays the four stages of a butterfly’s life through art installations; you can also find handprints in the shape of butterflies, symobolising that everyone can give a hand in constructing a butterfly-friendly ecosystem. As ideas from the winning proposals, these two artistic elements add much flourish to the multi-functional garden.
As the leading local artist responsible for this garden, Rainy Chau has led residents, students and teachers in the neighbourhood to decorate the area. “It was never easy to paint under the blazing sun but the community coming together outweighs any hardship of the work.” Rainy is also a resident in this neighbourhood and according to her, she felt her sense of belonging stronger than ever and was glad to have contributed to this place she calls home.
Making place and linking community through art
The butterfly gardens of Kai Tin Shopping Centre and Choi Ming Shopping Centre are of another style: English artist Sharon While has made use of a stark colour contrast to inject vibrance into what was a tranquil and inconspicuous park. There is also a caterpillar-shaped hopscotch on the ground of the Choi Ming Butterfly Garden which was proposed by a child: “This idea comes from one of the winning proposals by a seven-year-old girl living in the community. When we were discussing the design of the butterfly garden, it had occurred to me that children were also users of the garden so we decided to add some playful elements for a more entertaining style.”
Moreover, Sharon has invited nearby residents to paint the butterfly garden in their minds. The clash of different ages and drawing styles have produced a spectacular scenery. As Sharon put it: “Art interests people and when they feel something in it, their behaviour will change accordingly.” It is Sharon’s hope that creating a communal space with the residents can foster a connection with the ecosystem and build collective memory. Most importantly, it is to spread love for the community and for the nature.
From trash to treasure
Having toured three butterfly gardens, it was difficult not to be amazed by the artists’ ability to turn waste into art: Sharon used recycled tiles as her canvas and transformed coffee capsules into hanging flowers; Rainy made artwork installations from recycled mosaic pieces, wood, plastic bottles and plastic edge guards. Both designers agreed that the things we called garbage were actually resources if put into better use.
When asked about her vision for the butterfly garden programme, Rainy said: “I want to see butterfly gardens all over the city.” Just as dots are connected into lines and lines into planes, the programme aims to link “Ecological Hotspots” with “Ecological Stepping Stones” and weave them into a mall-based ecological web, eventually offering a vibrant habitat for the butterflies in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.
This year, Link will continue to support the Environmental Association and build three more butterfly gardens at our shopping centres, contributing our share in enhancing the biodiversity of Hong Kong. A new placemaking workshop will be added this year to boost participation and strengthen community bonding.
From the initial sponsorship in 2021, the Nature LINK programme has achieved encouraging results:
- 5 butterfly gardens built
- 30 species of butterfly recorded, including the very rare Tiny Grass Blue and rare Asian swallowtail
- 240 people in the community participated in design and construction
- 1,400 plants grown
All artwork installations are made from recycled materials, including:
- 40 pieces of tile
- 100 plastic bottles
- 100kg of wood
Do you know how challenging a butterfly’s life is?
From being a tiny egg, a butterfly is already threated by parasitic insects like parasitoid wasps, whose larvae will feed on the butterfly and finally kill the host. Butterflies also have a wide range of natural predators, including birds, lizards and even ants! Never forget that humans are also on this list.
Receive updates in Messenger
Subscribe Now
Receive updates in Messenger
Feedback
Personal Information Collection Statement
This Statement is made by Link Asset Management Limited ("Link Asset Management") as manager of Link REIT and Link Properties Limited (collectively "Link", “we”, "our" or "us"), in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) of the Laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ('the PDPO'). This Statement intends to notify you why your personal data is collected, how it will be used, to whom the personal data will be transferred and to whom data access requests are to be addressed.
Types of Personal Data Held
We hold four broad categories of personal data, namely customers' and tenants' personal data, business associates' personal data, employment-related personal data, website and social media users' personal data.
Collection - Why We Collect Your Data
From time to time, we may collect your personal data to provide our services to you and in an effort to improve your customer experience. You are not obliged to provide your personal data to us but if you do not, we may not be able to provide you with some of the information, materials, services and/or products of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited.
Provision of personal data (i.e. email address or similar personal data) to us is obligatory should you subscribe to “Channel 823” or any contents thereto.
If you are under the age of 18, you must ask your parent or guardian before providing any personal data to us.
Use - How Your Data May Be Used
The personal data you registered for subscribing to "Channel 823" (whether through our websites or through social media platforms) will be used for:
- disseminate the latest news and activities related to Link’s portfolios, latest development of Link, including but not limited to “Channel 823” or contents thereto;
- to provide information of events in relation to corporate social responsibility programs of Link such as (without limitation) Link Together Initiatives and similar sustainability/community engagement/charity initiatives organised or co-organised by Link at Link’s premises or on Link’s website or social media platforms;
- for handling enquiries and feedbacks for better services to you, tenants and shoppers who patronize Link premises or uses Link’s website or social media platforms;
- to provide services, activities or experiences under at Link’s premises or Link’s website / social media platforms and gauge popularity of the same
- for internal statistical and analysis purposes;
- transfer to the necessary parties identified in this PICS;
- making disclosure so required by law, regulation or court order of any jurisdiction and / or so request by any government, regulatory or law enforcement authority or administrative organization within or outside Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;
- for establishing legal claims or defences; and
- obtain legal advices and /or exercising, defending and / or protecting the rights or properties of Link, Link’s affiliates and contractors, agents and third party service providers including identifying, contracting or bringing legal actions against any persons who may be interfering with such rights or properties (whether intentionally or otherwise) and where any other third party may be harmed or property of any third party may be damaged by such interference
Use of Personal Data in Direct Marketing
We would like to use your email address or social media messengers for sending you "Channel 823" information or part thereof from time to time by way of direct marketing.
If you object to our use of your personal data for the relevant purposes as listed above, you can, at any time without charge, inform us via the “unsubscribe” function available in the emails or social media messengers of “Channel 823” updates or send an email to channel823@e.linkreit.com.
Transfer of Your Personal Data
Personal data held by us will be kept confidential, but we may disclose/transfer such data to the following parties (whether within or outside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) for the purposes set out in this Statement:
- the entities comprising all the special purpose vehicles of Link REIT and the subsidiaries of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited in connection with the operation of our business and activities at Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- professional advisors, service providers or contractors of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited providing property management services, letting, licensing, social media services at Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- any agent, contractor or third party service provider who provides administrative, telecommunications, computer, payment, content, information or other marketing and promotional services to us in connection with the operation of our business and activities at or in relation to Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- any person under a duty of confidentiality to us or who has undertaken to keep your personal data confidential and use them in strict compliance with the requirements of the PDPO;
- any government, law enforcement authorities and administrative organisations and any person to whom we are under an obligation under law to make disclosure.
Security
We strive at all times to ensure that your personal data will be protected against unauthorized or accidental access, processing, erasure or other use. We have implemented appropriate physical, electronic and managerial measures to safeguard and secure your personal data.
Your personal data will be kept in the office of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited or by the service providers engaged by Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited and is accessible only to our authorized employees and service providers.
Retention of Data
We will keep your personal data for a reasonable time to fulfill the purpose for which the data was collected or comply with the relevant rules, regulations and laws of Hong Kong. Personal data which is no longer required will be destroyed.
Data Access/Correction Requests
Under the PDPO. any individual has the right to request access to and correction of his or her personal data held by us. In accordance with the terms of the PDPO, Link Asset Management or Link Properties Limited has the right to charge a reasonable fee for the processing of request.
If you wish to access or correct your personal data in relations to "Channel 823" subscription held by us, please send your request to: channel823@e.linkreit.com.
Please read the below terms if you provide your personal data for the use of our services in Mainland China.
Cross-border data transfer
Since "Channel 823" is published by Link Asset Management in Hong Kong, transfer of your personal data to Hong Kong is necessary for us to send you "Channel 823" information or part thereof. During such cross-border data transfer and storage, we are committed to protecting the security of your personal data. If you object to our cross-border transfer of your personal data, we may not be able to provide you with the services for the relevant purposes listed above.
Other rights
Other than the rights to request access and correction, in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, you will also have the rights to copy, supplement and deletion of your personal data held by us.
To Change the scope of consent
We respect your right to know and right of decision on the processing of your personal data. You can change the scope of your consent to our processing of your personal data at any time, however this might affect your use of our services. If you wish to access, copy, correct, supplement or delete your personal data in relations to "Channel 823" subscription held by us or to change the scope of your consent, please send your request to: channel823@e.linkreit.com.
Language Versions
In case of discrepancies between the English and Chinese versions of this Statement, the English version shall apply and prevail.
NOTE: This Personal Information Collection Statement is subject to change and was last updated in July 2022.
© Copyright Link Asset Management Limited. All rights reserved
