Ocean Park Conservation Foundation to launch "Step Up for Our Oceans" campaign

Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong Releases Promotional Photos from “Step Up for Our Oceans” Campaign

Raymond Lam, Ken Hung, Guo Jingjing Join OPCFHK Chair Judy Chen in
Call for Public to Support July 2 Flag Day

Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) will launch on May 15 a new promotion under the “Step Up for Our Oceans” campaign. Renowned celebrities Raymond Lam and Ken Hung collaborated for the first time with diving queen Guo Jingjing and Ms. Judy Chen, JP, Chair of OPCFHK, to appear in a television commercial. They dressed like corals and coral fish by donning colourful headdresses. Initiated to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity, the campaign calls on the Hong Kong public to “Step Up for Our Oceans” and help maintain marine ecological balance. The television commercial will premiere on all major television channels on May 20. In addition, OPCFHK volunteers will all “Step Up” during the Foundation’s Kowloon Region Flag Day on July 2 to raise funds for its conservation efforts on local marine mammal stranding response, scientific projects of local species, and local community education programmes.

Ms. Judy Chen, Chair of OPCFHK said, “Encouraged by the overwhelming success of the ‘Speak Up for Our Oceans’ campaign launched two years ago, OPCFHK has developed a follow-up campaign entitled ‘Step Up for Our Oceans’. We are grateful to have Raymond Lam, Ken Hung and Guo Jingjing joining hands to help spread marine conservation messages. For our Kowloon Region Flag Day on July 2, we have designed a collection of 60 stickers featuring photos of precious Asian wildlife, including the Chinese white dolphin, the giant panda and the Chinese crested tern, an endangered species with less than 100 individuals in the wild. We hope the public would donate in support of our conservation efforts as they enjoy the summer sun and fun.”

Ms. Suzanne Gendron, Foundation Director of OPCFHK, said, “Through the ‘Step Up for Our Oceans’ slogan, we hope to arouse public concern for biodiversity and engage them to support actions that will preserve biodiversity – the idea that each species on this planet has its own unique role in nature and that we don’t want to lose them. To better live in habitats like forests, rivers, mangroves, rocky shores and coral reefs, diverse species evolve and develop different traits and together flourish in the circle of life. Biodiversity stands for the variety of species, habitats and genes. The high variety of species strengthens the resilience of the ecosystem, helping the nature maintain balance despite environmental changes. With human exploitation depleting resources beyond their natural regenerative capacity, around 12,000 species of flora and fauna are now threatened, which in turn puts other species at risk of extinction. That’s why it is so important that everyone works together to help maintain the precarious balance of nature and a healthy ocean.”

Raymond Lam and Ken Hung, both appearing in the OPCFHK commercial for the first time, noted that they found the opportunity to “Step Up for Our Oceans” extremely meaningful. Featuring adorable and dazzling visual effects, the commercial inspires reflection on the importance of maintaining the ecological balance by unleashing viewers’ imagination. Raymond and Ken appear as corals, which are critical to ocean heath. They are joined by delightful kids playing octopuses, crabs and fish.

Raymond Lam, a nature lover, said, “Every time when I get to observe the diverse marine life in the ocean, it fills my heart with the wonder of the oceans and made me appreciate the interrelationships among marine species. Being a part of the nature, humans should do our part to protect our beautiful home.”

Ken Hung, also an ocean lover, said, “My earlier experience at OPCFHK’s Run for Survival has already impressed me with the importance of marine conservation, which is why I am excited to play a role in this campaign. Future generations will still be able to admire the diversity of marine life if everyone can help minimize marine pollution in their daily life, such as by using less one-off disposable items and bringing your own water bottle.”

The life of OPCFHK’s Marine Conservation Ambassador Guo Jingjing has been inseparable from water since an early age. During the production of the commercial, Guo Jingjing, in her role as a coral, received kisses on her cheek by kids playing reef fish. Their adorable and intimate interactions brought out the inextricable relationships among marine species. Calling on the public to support OPCFHK Flag Day, she said, “Since its expansion in 2005, OPCFHK has been committed to advocating, facilitating and participating in effective conservation of Asian wildlife, with an emphasis on Chinese white dolphins and giant pandas, as well as their habitats. On July 2, OPCFHK is going to organize a Kowloon Region Flag Day to raise funds for its conservation efforts on cetaceans, horseshoe crabs and reef fish. I hope the public can ‘Step Up for Our Oceans’ by volunteering or donating to purchase a flag.”

OPCFHK has specifically selected six endangered or threatened species that are featured in a limited-edition Education Booklet, available for sale before the Flag Day to raise public concern and actions for biodiversity and marine conservation. Members of the public with a passion for conservation can order the booklet by email (opcf@oceanpark.com.hk), or register to become a volunteer by visiting OPCFHK’s website.

OPCFHK Website:
http://www.opcf.org.hk/tc/

Enquiry Phone No:
3923 2534

Nature lover Raymond Lam noted that being a part of nature, we humans should do our part to protect our beautiful home. That’s why he will “Step Up for theOceans” by joining more conservation work.

Ms. Judy Chen, Chair of OPCFHK, donned a colourful headdress to play a coral in a commercial that raises awareness of the importance of biodiversity, calling on the public to “Step Up for Our Oceans” and help maintain marine ecological balance.

To raise concern for biodiversity and marine conservation, OPCFHK has specifically selected six endangered or threatened species that are featured in a limited edition education booklet available for purchase by the public before the Flag Day.