The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects

The Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2015 was introduced into the Legislative Council by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau in April 2015. The Bill includes the proposal to rename the ‘Architectural, Surveying and Planning’ functional constituency to ‘Architectural, Surveying, Planning and Landscape’, which will take effect in the next Legislative Council.

2014

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, HKILA organised the ‘Landscape Without Boundary’ conference and ‘People + Nature = Harmony’ exhibition.

2013

Technologcial and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) began to offer the Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Architecture (BALA) programme.

2012

Educational reform, the undergraduate programmes in Hong Kong are switched from three-year to four-year. Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) began to offer the Higher Diploma in Landscape Architecture programme.

2010

The Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section (GLTMS) was established under the Development Bureau. The Chief Landscape Architect post was transferred from ArchSD to the GLTMS to head the Greening and Landscape Office.`

2009

The Division of Landscape Architecture was established at HKU. Concurrently, it began to offer the Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Studies (BA(LS)) three- year undergraduate programme.

2008

The Legislative Council passed the proposal to set up the Chief Landscape Architect (CLA) post in ArchSD. This was the first Directorate grade position for landscape architects. The HKU MLA programme went from offered every two years to become offered annually.

2006

The Hong Kong Wetland Park officially opened. It was the first park in Hong Kong themed for ecotourism.

2005

The Penny’s Bay reclamation was completed and Hong Kong Disney officially opened.

2004

TDD merged with the Civil Engineering Department and became the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).

2001

Legislator Hon. Lau Ping-Cheung proposed the motion debate, entitled, ‘The Need for a Policy on Landscape and Greening in Hong Kong’. The motion was unanimously passed by the Legislative Council.

2000

The Urban Council and Regional Council, together with their executive branches, the Urban Services Department and Regional Services Department, were disbanded and were reorganised into the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).

1997

The Works Bureau officially recognised HKILA professional membership as a qualification for government landscape architects.

The Landscape Architects Registration Ordinance (Cap. 516) was passed at the Legislative Council. In the same year, the Landscape Architects Registration Board was formed, the first Chair being Evans Iu.

1996

The HKILA Incorporation Ordinance (Cap. 1162) was passed in the Legislative Council.

The 8th IFLA Eastern Regional Congress was held in Hong Kong.

1994

The landscape architects of NTDD, together with grade management responsibilites, were reorganised into the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD).

1993

Members of HKILA joined the Architectural, Surveying and Planning Functional Constituency of the Legislative Council.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) started the first Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) programmed in Hong Kong. The programme was offered every two years.

1992

HKILA held its first Professional Practice Examination (PPE). The first two PPEs consisted only of the oral section. In 1994, the PPE introduced the written section and became a two-part exam.

1991

Hong Kong Park unveiled. The location was formerly the Victoria Barracks.

1988

The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA) was established. Its first President was professor CK Wong.

1986

NTDD merged with the Urban Area Development Office to form the Territory Development Department (TDD).

Mid-1980s, Michael Kirkbride, Senior Architect who was responsible for the management of the Landscape Core Teams, retired. The successor of his post, Rowland Hastings, became the first Senior Landscape Architect in the Hong Kong Government. Later on, the number of Senior Landscape Architect posts was increased to three.

1984

The 3rd IFLA Eastern Regional Congress was held in Hong Kong.

1981

Team 73 started business in Hong Kong. They were the first Chinese landscape consultants.

1980

HKLG officially became an overseas Chapter of the UKLI.

1978

The Hong Kong Landscape Group (HKLG) was formed.

British firm Brian Clouston and Partners (BCP, later ACLA) set up office in Hong Kong.

1977

Urbis began operation. They were one of the earliest local planning and landscape consultants.

Ocean Park was opened. It was the first large-scale theme park in Hong Kong.

1976

The Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208) was enacted.

1975

Australian firm Yuncken Freeman (later EBC and Hassell) opened office in Hong Kong.

1973

The New Territories Development Department (NTDD) was established. The first New Towns included Tsuen Wan, Shatin, and Tuen Mun. In the late-1970s, the New Town planning studies recommended each New Town Office to form an individual Landscape Core Team to oversee landscape works.

The Housing Authority was formed under the Housing Ordinance, with the Housing Department as its executive branch.

1972

Hong Kong Governor MacLehose introduced the Ten-year Housing Programme.

1970

Kowloon Park opened. The site was formerly the Whitfield Barracks.

1968

The first phase of Mei Foo Sun Chuen, the first large-scale private housing estate in Hong Kong, was completed.

1957

Victoria Park unveiled.

1954

The first phase of the Shek Kip Mei Resettlement Estate completed, which marked the beginning of Hong Kong large-scale public housing projects.

1953

Shek Kip Mei fire.

1948

Founding of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) in Cambridge, UK.

1929

Founding of the UK Landscape Institute.

1904

Blake Garden was built over the original slum area that was cleared as an aftermath of the bubonic plague outbreak in 1894,

1896

Statue Square unveiled (originally named Royal Square).

1871

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens was founded, originally as Botanic Garden, and renamed in 1975 as Botanical and Zoological Gardens. Mr Charles Ford was appointed the first Superintendent of Gardens.

Publications

Yuan Lin

It is indeed the pleasure of the Editorial Board to present this Special Edition of Yuan Lin to commemorate the 30th anniversary

Lpod

HKILA Newsletter offers a platform to exchange information and ideas in relation to all aspects of landscape architecture, also allows members to share their works with related professions and public.