A GROUP working to establish the first-ever eco centre in Hong Kong is looking to Machynlleth’s Centre for Alternative Technology for inspiration and advice.

The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, with backing from the Hong Kong Government, have big plans to transform an existing restored landfill site into an eco village for environmental education.

They visited CAT last week on a fact-finding mission to learn about how the centre has developed and how it delivers teaching and communication on a wide range of environmental issues.

Brenda Chung, a centre supervisor for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals who led the visit, said: “We have enjoyed exploring the CAT site and learning about the range of educational and public activities that CAT provides.

“We provide social services to the public in Hong Kong and it’s been interesting to explore how the people we work with would benefit from environmental activities and education.”

Corrin Chan, chair of the Hong Kong Architecture Centre and director of AOS Architecture (the company designing the new centre), first came to CAT several years ago and was inspired to set up an eco centre in Hong Kong.

She said: “CAT is unique in the world. People come to learn not just through knowledge but through engagement. Environmental problems are global. We need to work together on the solutions.”

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