More than 100 volunteers clean beach in Shek O for Hong Kong pollution awareness campaign
Event is a joint effort by locals and foreigners, including diplomats from Europe and the US
More than 100 volunteers, including over 20 diplomats, got their hands dirty on Saturday for a good cause – to clean up a beach located on the south-eastern part of Hong Kong Island.
The group of locals and foreigners, armed with just gloves and garbage bags, cleared some 900kg of waste from Rocky Bay Beach and adjacent shorelines in 1.5 hours.
Rocky Bay Beach, which faces the South China Sea, is a small stretch of sand behind Shek O Beach.
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It is quiet and peaceful because of its isolated location, but more tourists are discovering this hidden gem and heading to the area, bringing with them trash which pollutes the marine environment.
The clean-up event, organised by the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macau and the Italian Chamber of Commerce, aimed to raise awareness about marine litter.
Carmen Cano, head of the office, said marine pollution was a global problem.
“Our oceans are dying and we all need to do our share [to prevent this] before it is too late,” she said.