Important Life Lessons from Butterflies
Thanks to the transplantation work by Environmental Association earlier this year, the butterfly gardens at Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre’s and Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre’s outdoor spaces, which are now beautifully decorated with nature-inspired prints and installations, have come into full bloom this summer. Ambassadors, who completed their six-month training in ecological conservation under Nature LINK – a programme organised by Environmental Association and sponsored by Link Together Initiatives – led guided tours and exhibitions at both butterfly gardens last month, during which they shared what they learnt during their training and how the butterfly gardens have inspired them with the residents in the surrounding communities.
Unlike bees, who are emblems of hard work, butterflies are often regarded as dreamy, ornamental creatures, based on how they are depicted in tales such as Zhuangzi’s Butterfly Dream and The Butterfly Lovers. Indeed, their ecological values are seldom mentioned. “When I was a kid, adults often said that butterflies only have beautiful appearances and don’t contribute anything more to the world. As a result, I used to wonder why we need to conserve them,” said Chinese Medicine Practitioner Mei Lai.
Lai joined Nature LINK early this year to become an ambassador in ecological conservation. She received trainings in butterfly garden management and butterfly ecosystem censuses, and she participated in environmental workshops, all of which made her finally realise the important roles that butterflies play. “Not only are butterflies nature’s pollinators, but their high sensitivity to climate change is also helpful in reflecting the nuances in the ecological system.”
Understanding the Relationship between Human Beings and Nature
As the ambassador responsible for the game booth at the exhibition in Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre, Lai had to collaborate with other ambassadors while they were setting up. Since the ambassadors had different views about the format and rules of the game, they needed to have a series of discussions before reaching a consensus. “In addition to butterfly-related knowledge, this programme inspired me in other unexpected ways,” said Lai. “It gave me the chance to reflect on human relationships, particularly on how to get along well with my fellow ambassadors and how to help each other achieve a shared goal.”
She also realised that there is also room for human beings and nature to be more inclusive with each other. “When I see citrus trees now, I think about whether we can plant a few more of them so that both human beings and butterflies can both enjoy their fruit.” Thinking more about nature is an important first step in better understanding the vital links between humans and nature.
Through interacting with residents, Lai also found that connecting people with the natural world around their communities is a more effective way to raise their environmental awareness than by simply asking them to do their civic duty to protect the environment. Through her experience, Lai saw that sharing interesting knowledge about butterflies gave local residents a newfound respect for nature, which could lead to other positive outcomes, including giving them the impetus to form a community group with the aim of protecting the environment and pursuing sustainable development together. Generating these types of reactions was an important aim of building butterfly gardens in the communities.
An Ecosystem in Perfect Balance
Another ambassador, Vincent Wong was taught an important life lesson by the butterflies in another way. As a docent in the butterfly garden at Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre, Wong was responsible for giving guided tours to visitors and introducing them to the garden’s features, such as the types of plants that live there.
Wong said, “There was a couple who joined the tour with their daughter. When I told them that butterflies are picky eaters who only eat host plants or nectariferous plants, the mother immediately told her daughter not to be become a picky eater like the butterflies.” This story shows that what we discover about nature can often be linked with moral education and life education in an interesting way.
Another reflection of Wong after the programme is the importance of waste reduction and water protection to help butterflies survive and thrive in the ecosystem. “I fear that future generations may only see butterflies in books, but hopefully we’ll never see that become reality,” he said.
Receive updates in Messenger
Subscribe Now
Receive updates in Messenger
Personal Information Collection Statement
This Statement is made by Link Asset Management Limited ("Link Asset Management") as manager of Link REIT and Link Properties Limited (collectively "Link", “we”, "our" or "us"), in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) of the Laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ('the PDPO'). This Statement intends to notify you why your personal data is collected, how it will be used, to whom the personal data will be transferred and to whom data access requests are to be addressed.
Types of Personal Data Held
We hold four broad categories of personal data, namely customers' and tenants' personal data, business associates' personal data, employment-related personal data, website and social media users' personal data.
Collection - Why We Collect Your Data
From time to time, we may collect your personal data to provide our services to you and in an effort to improve your customer experience. You are not obliged to provide your personal data to us but if you do not, we may not be able to provide you with some of the information, materials, services and/or products of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited.
Provision of personal data to us is obligatory should you subscribe to “Channel 823” or any contents thereto.
If you are under the age of 18, you must ask your parent or guardian before providing any personal data to us.
Use - How Your Data May Be Used
The personal data you registered for subscribing to "Channel 823" (whether through our websites or through social media platforms) will be used for:
- disseminate the latest news and activities related to Link’s portfolios, latest development of Link, including but not limited to “Channel 823” or contents thereto;
- to provide information of events in relation to corporate social responsibility programs of Link such as (without limitation) Link Together Initiatives and similar sustainability/community engagement/charity initiatives organised or co-organised by Link at Link’s premises or on Link’s website or social media platforms;
- for handling enquiries and feedbacks for better services to you, tenants and shoppers who patronize Link premises or uses Link’s website or social media platforms;
- to provide services, activities or experiences under at Link’s premises or Link’s website / social media platforms and gauge popularity of the same
- for internal statistical and analysis purposes;
- transfer to the necessary parties identified in this PICS;
- making disclosure so required by law, regulation or court order of any jurisdiction and / or so request by any government, regulatory or law enforcement authority or administrative organization within or outside Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;
- for establishing legal claims or defences; and
- obtain legal advices and /or exercising, defending and / or protecting the rights or properties of Link, Link’s affiliates and contractors, agents and third party service providers including identifying, contracting or bringing legal actions against any persons who may be interfering with such rights or properties (whether intentionally or otherwise) and where any other third party may be harmed or property of any third party may be damaged by such interference
Use of Personal Data in Direct Marketing
We would like to use your email address or social media messengers for sending you "Channel 823" information or part thereof from time to time by way of direct marketing.
If you object to our use of your personal data for the relevant purposes as listed above, you can, at any time without charge, inform us via the “unsubscribe” function available in the emails or social media messengers of “Channel 823” updates or send an email to mediarelations@linkreit.com.
Transfer of Your Personal Data
Personal data held by us will be kept confidential, but we may disclose/transfer such data to the following parties (whether within or outside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) for the purposes set out in this Statement:
- the entities comprising all the special purpose vehicles of Link REIT and the subsidiaries of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited in connection with the operation of our business and activities at Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- professional advisors, service providers or contractors of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited providing property management services, letting, licensing, social media services at Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- any agent, contractor or third party service provider who provides administrative, telecommunications, computer, payment, content, information or other marketing and promotional services to us in connection with the operation of our business and activities at or in relation to Link premises / "Channel 823" or contents thereto;
- any person under a duty of confidentiality to us or who has undertaken to keep your personal data confidential and use them in strict compliance with the requirements of the PDPO;
- any government, law enforcement authorities and administrative organisations and any person to whom we are under an obligation under law to make disclosure.
Security
We strive at all times to ensure that your personal data will be protected against unauthorized or accidental access, processing, erasure or other use. We have implemented appropriate physical, electronic and managerial measures to safeguard and secure your personal data.
Your personal data will be kept in the office of Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited or by the service providers engaged by Link Asset Management and/or Link Properties Limited and is accessible only to our authorized employees and service providers.
Retention of Data
We will keep your personal data for a reasonable time to fulfill the purpose for which the data was collected or comply with the relevant rules, regulations and laws of Hong Kong. Personal data which is no longer required will be destroyed.
Data Access/Correction Requests
Under the PDPO. any individual has the right to request access to and correction of his or her personal data held by us. In accordance with the terms of the PDPO, Link Asset Management or Link Properties Limited has the right to charge a reasonable fee for the processing of any data access request.
If you wish to access or correct your personal data in relations to "Channel 823" subscription held by us, please send your request to: mediarelations@linkreit.com.
Language Versions
In case of discrepancies between the English and Chinese versions of this Statement, the English version shall apply and prevail.
NOTE: This Personal Information Collection Statement is subject to change and was last updated in April 2021.
© Copyright Link Asset Management Limited. All rights reserved
