We held a grand opening ceremony for the Green Hub (the Old Tai Po Police Station) on 6 November 2015. Although the Green Hub first opened its doors back in August, this event was the official launch and a way for us to broadcast the happy news to the public and the press. Officiating at our ceremony was CY Leung, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Paul Chan Mo-po, MH, JP, Secretary for Development, Bernard Chan, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Revitalisation of Historic Buildings and Ruy Barretto S.C., one of the Board Members of KFBG.

The Old Tai Po Police Station is a Grade 1 historic building, dating back to 1899. The Development Bureau has been working with KFBG to transform the heritage site into a "Green Hub for Sustainable Living” since 2010 under Batch II of the "Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme" (Revitalisation Scheme). The Green Hub is an example of how sustainable living is possible while respecting nature and respecting each other.

On behalf of our Chairman, Andrew McAulay, Ruy Barretto S.C. gave a speech and said, "Hong Kong is deeply dependent on imports, which means that we are very vulnerable to escalating prices and unstable food supplies, caused by changing weather patterns, habitat destruction and fossil fuel depletion. To address these global crises, all of us need to harmonise our relationship with the environment and need a clear vision for sustainable development. To mobilize Hong Kong towards less consumption, lower population, a localized economy, and less carbon emissions we need wider awareness of why and how to move forward.”

“The Green Hub project revitalizes the historic Old Tai Po Police Station with its new mission, as a hub to serve our community in meeting this need in a timely way. This project has demonstrated the principle of participation as a method both of awareness-raising and making progress towards genuine sustainable development,” Barretto added.

Our officiating guests planted two tea trees -- these trees were transplanted from KFBG’s tea garden to symbolise the bond between KFBG and the Green Hub -- in a special ceremony at the opening. Andy Brown, Executive Director of KFBG said: “Tea was grown on the slopes of Tai Mo Shan above KFBG for centuries. The trees will become part of the Healing Garden, and the tea will be harvested, processed and served here in the Eat Well Canteen. These trees will help visitors to learn about our traditional culture and the close relationship between people and nature.”

We welcome all our visitors to enjoy a low carbon meal at The Eat Well Canteen – an eatery that we aspire to have the smallest eco-footprint in all of Hong Kong. The Co-op Shop next to the Reception works closely with local producers and partners crafting handmade products. The Green Hub holds regular public workshops teaching practical skills and traditional knowledge for sustainable living. The most representative features of the building, including the armoury, retention cell and the report room, are converted to  a Heritage Display where visitors can see the history of the Old Tai Po Police Station and life in the New Territories in the old days.

The Green Hub runs re-skilling workshops and thematic short courses as well as hosting sustainability retreats and 3 to 5-day Transformative Educational Courses taught by leading teachers from around the world. Residential workshop participants can enjoy healthy, low carbon meals at our Eat Well Canteen, join our heritage tours or cookery workshop, browse local shops or join a field course to explore healthy and sustainable living more fully.

Here are some upcoming programmes offered by the Green Hub:

• Herbal Experience (21-22 November 2015)
• Architecture x Food – half-day workshops, public talk and cookery workshop (28 November 2015)
• Mini Farming (29 November 2015)
• Amazing Microbes (19 December 2015)
• Zentangle in Nature (2, 9 and 19 December 2015)
• Slow is Beautiful – Learning Ecological Wisdom from Asian Traditions - a 5-day residential transformative workshop (4-8 December 2015)

Visitor Information:

• Opening Hours

Visitor Centre, Heritage Display and Co-op Shop: 10:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:00)
Eat Well Canteen: 10:00-16:00 (last orders at 15:30)

• Visiting the Green Hub

Self-guided:    This option is for walk-in groups of five or less; however we do recommend advanced booking because site capacity is limited.
Guided Tour:   Two Heritage Tour sessions are held daily (except Tuesdays and specified dates*).
        Morning session:        11:00-12:00
        Afternoon session:      14:00-15:00

• Booking: online at www.greenhub.hk
• Address: 11 Wan Tau Kok Lane, Tai Po
• Transportation: 10-minute walk from Tai Po Market MTR Station (Exit A2)
• Tel: (852) 2996 2800
• Email: greenhub@kfbg.org