HBF's three key focus areas: Research, Government Engagement and Outreach and Events.

HBF Research:

HBF's research agenda is a key part of HBF's program and focuses on the process of improving harbour development rather than individual projects and promotes a holistic approach to harbour development. It is essential that HBF bases its strategic decisions on a better knowledge on the economic, social and environmental challenges of the harbour and valuable lessons are learnt from what other countries are doing for their harbour and how they are planning for long term sustainable development with major environmental challenges.

Some examples of HBF's research includes the following:

• Environmental Economics: An Economic Asset Not Fully Realised. This paper looks at the concept of Total Economic Value and considers what it implies for the management of Hong Kong's harbour. It concludes that the harbour should be managed with more regard to the concepts of unpriced values, value at the margin and balance in expansion. HBF recognises the importance of the unpriced values associated with Hong Kong's harbour. HBF supports efforts to measure, protect, and enhance the harbour and we ask that a strong leadership role is taken to ensure that analysis, forecasting and decision-making properly accounts for the full range of important economic and social services provided by the harbour.
  
  
• Contingent Valuation Study: Harbour Values Study. The Harbour Values Study examines the value of improved planning and development of Hong Kong's harbour in order to demonstrate the value of community preferences that lie outside considerations of the costs and revenues of development. This is the first time such a study has been undertaken for Hong Kong and the outcome which revealed that Hong Kong's community values harbour improvements at HK$73 billion provides a new and powerful view of the harbour's intangible value. Such a high dollar value provides evidence to Hong Kong's decision-makers that harbour planning and development is a priority and revenue-generating land uses may not be the best solution for the harbour-front. This study also assists in understanding the necessary trade-offs needed in harbour planning and development.
  
  
• Public Opinion Survey: At the end of 2005, HBF commissioned a Public Opinion Survey on Hong Kong's community perceptions of, and aspirations for Hong Kong's harbour. The survey was conducted in two segments including qualitative findings (through a literature review and focus group discussions) and quantitative findings (through a telephone survey). The loud and clear message from the survey is the public's concern for enhancing the waterfront and cleaning up pollution, with 88% of interviewees wanting to see more greening around the harbour. Anti-reclamation opinions were also prevalent, as were views in favour of reduced development on the waterfront - not just infrastructural and commercial, but also residential development. These types of development to be replaced by promenades and improved ground level access to the harbour, allowing people to run, cycle, perform tai chi and enjoy cultural and entertainment activities.

HBF Government Engagement and Outreach:

As a coalition, we respond to Government initiatives relating to harbour developments in support of the Harbour Planning Principles. We strongly encourage their rigorous application to all on-going and future developments and stress the need for holistic and integrated planning, both on and around the harbour. Since 2005, HBF has made presentations and submitted reviews on the progress of Kai Tak and Central harbour-front development to the government. Through these dialogues, and regular submissions to relevant government bodies and to the HEC, HBF has been delivering its views to the Government. HBF will continue to engage and respond to the government and the Harbour Enhancement Committee (HEC). HBF also writes regular newslettersto its members and they are a popular medium to communicate Best Practice from around the world.

HBF Events:

HBF continually organises local and international events, luncheons and speaking engagements addressing best practice and waterfront development. HBF also supports harbour competitions to widely engage the public in their vision for the harbour.

To download materials including HBF research publications, presentation materials by our international speakers and more please click here. For useful harbour links click here.