Stanley Plaza, which is owned and managed by The Link Management Limited (The Link), together with the Southern District Council, Southern District Office, Ocean Recovery Alliance and Hong Kong Shark Foundation, hosted a press conference at Stanley Plaza on 9 April to introduce the 2nd annual Hong Kong – San Francisco Ocean Film Festival,which the opening ceremony took place on 14 April.

Part of the Southern District Tourism and Culture Festival 2013, which is organised by the Southern District Office, the Hong Kong – San Francisco Ocean Film Festival is supported in part by The Link. By offering venue space for the film screenings and interactive workshops, we hope to raise public awareness of environmental protection and marine conservation.

The Festival has transformed Stanley Plaza into an open-air theatre with screenings of 25 documentaries presenting gorgeous ocean visuals, which illuminate the importance of ocean conversation. As part of the Festival, from 9 April until 23 April, Stanley Plaza and the adjoining shoreline area have transformed into an art gallery, showcasing large-scale and three-dimensional installation art pieces which express the message of ocean preservation.

In addition, the Hong Kong Shark Foundation hosted a series of art workshops led by two Hong Kong artists at historic Murray House, adjacent to Stanley Plaza. The workshops taught participants how to make crafts, such as bags and key chains, while at the same time encouraging greater understanding of the desperate need for marine conservation. Also, during the duration of the Festival, a large oil painting frame has been placed on Murray House’s exterior wall where members of the public can help paint scenes of marine life in an effort to showcase and connect with conservation efforts.

Miss Hilda Wong, Head of Marketing of The Link, said, “Stanley Plaza is located on Hong Kong Island’s southern coast, and its unique scenery makes it a favourite spot for tourists and customers alike. It was recently voted as the Best Shopping Destination in Southern District according to a recent survey done by a local magazine, as well as a top ten tourists’ spot. The Link has continually supported the Southern District Council in its promotion of Southern District tourism, and we are honoured to be a partner of the  Hong Kong – San Francisco Ocean Film Festival to help raise public concern about environmental issues and marine conservation.”

The Link’s Stanley Plaza has supported environmental protection work in the past by organising and participating in a range of different green activities to promote public awareness. These activities have included the Hong Kong International Coastal Cleanup Campaign 2012 and the Southside Glass Recycling Initiative, which organised the collection of 46,000 glass bottles between December 2012 and February 2013 for reuse and recycle.

The 2nd Annual Hong Kong – San Francisco Ocean Film Festival: