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SDG11 Session: Can Seven Rules Make Our City Better? A Sustainable Neighborhoods Sprint Puts Them to the Test
SDG11 Session: Can Seven Rules Make Our City Better? A Sustainable Neighborhoods Sprint Puts Them to the Test
16 & 23 November 2025 — The SDG Experiential Learning (SDGxEL) Co-curriculum recently held two dedicated workshops on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, focusing on local urban sustainability through the theme “HK Sustainable Neighborhoods Sprint.” Facilitated by Dr. XIONG Weiyan, the sessions introduced students to the core targets of SDG 11 and applied Patrick Condon’s Seven Rules for Sustainable Cities as a diagnostic framework for evaluating Hong Kong neighborhoods.
16 & 23 November 2025 — The SDG Experiential Learning (SDGxEL) Co-curriculum recently held two dedicated workshops on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, focusing on local urban sustainability through the theme “HK Sustainable Neighborhoods Sprint.” Facilitated by Dr. XIONG Weiyan, the sessions introduced students to the core targets of SDG 11 and applied Patrick Condon’s Seven Rules for Sustainable Cities as a diagnostic framework for evaluating Hong Kong neighborhoods.
The session engaged participants in a hands-on, collaborative analysis of six distinct districts or areas: Tai Po, Sham Shui Po, Quarry Bay, Wan Chai, Tai O, and Tsung Kwan O. After a brief introduction to the Seven Rules, participants were divided into groups and assigned a district through a lively lucky draw. Each group received curated materials about their district and was tasked with 30 minutes of group discussion, followed by ten minutes to design one low-cost solution for their areas’ priority issue, visually presenting their ideas on whiteboards.
Participants’ engagement was vibrant and thoughtful. Several groups used creative whiteboard sketches and mind maps to illustrate their proposals. During the 25-minute presentation and feedback session, diverse and critical perspectives emerged. One group highlighted transport accessibility in Tai O, suggesting increased bus services to improve connectivity, while another proposed enhancing eco-tourism as a means to boost local economy without compromising ecological integrity. For Sham Shui Po, a team recommended integrating more retail and heritage businesses to attract visitors, which sparked immediate debate from peers questioning whether tourism might exacerbate overcrowding— leading to an energetic dialogue where participants raised thoughtful and at times provocative questions.
The discussion also touched upon housing innovation in Hong Kong, such as the YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel—a revitalized public housing estate that preserves local history while supporting sustainable tourism and community education—demonstrating how heritage conservation and adaptive reuse can align with sustainable urban development.
The workshops were successfully delivered with the support of the SDGxEL program team, combining conceptual learning with place-based, collaborative problem-solving. Through the lens of the Seven Rules, participants not only analyzed real urban challenges but also practiced designing actionable, low-cost interventions—gaining practical insight into how cities can progress toward inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability.
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