Staying green has always been an element of living in Yuen Long's YoHo Town, which scooped up this year's Hong Kong Eco-Business Awards grand award for getting residents involved in innovative environmental activities.
Developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties and managed by Kai Shing Management, YoHo Town has set up green activities under the 'YoHo Green Card' programme, which involves family outings.
Residents can collect green card points if they take part in six activities regularly - Green Swapper, Green Interactive, Domestic Energy Saving Competition, YoHo Fun-Fun Green, YoHo Green Farm, Green Tour - and by using less garbage bags.
YoHo Town also has a YoHo Green Farm situated within the estate, which is available to residents interested in growing their own plants. For HK$100, they get a patch of land on the farm.
Areas are rotated every six months and, so far, residents have grown carrots, spinach and tomatoes. Other plants include balsam pears, sweet potatoes and gourds.
The level of resident commitment is indicated by the number of points they have received, and there are opportunities to be awarded a Gold membership if they collect 60 stamps. The Gold membership enables cardholders to use the clubhouse facilities.
Kai Shing director Patrick Lam said many of the innovative ideas for these environmental activities came from the company's staff.