Swire Properties Inviting HK’s Youth to Design, Manage and Run White Christmas Street Fair 2019

University students to compete for a six-month project internship

to create one of the company’s largest community-building events

Swire Properties has launched HOMETOWN HEROES: I AM A DREAM MAKER, a city-wide youth empowerment scheme that invites students from major Hong Kong universities to compete for the opportunity to design, manage and run all aspects of the Company’s annual White Christmas Street Fair, one of the city’s most anticipated seasonal events on Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place.

The first official 2019 event of the very popular placemaking and youth development programme –  HOMETOWN HEROES, students will form teams and submit proposals that outline their creative vision and implementation plan for the Street fair. A judging panel will select two winning teams, who will organise the entire event while working alongside Swire Properties professionals, receiving mentorship and taking part in master classes to level up their skills.

Mr Raymond Lee, Director of Planning, Planning Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Christopher Law, Founding Director, the Oval Partnership; Ms Mabelle Ma, Director, Development & Valuations at Swire Properties; and Ms Fiona Ma, Director, Marketing & Communications at Swire Properties officiated the kick-off ceremony and briefing session for the project.  

Students from six universities attended the session to get a fuller understanding of the requirements and project details; including representatives from Hong Kong Baptist University, City University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, The Polytechnic of Hong Kong University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

“People are central to our work at the Planning Development. We work in partnership with our community in undertaking various planning activities to make Hong Kong a better place to live and work in.  I’m delighted that Swire Properties is engaging the city’s youth and offering them a chance to use their creativity to put together an event that will enhance community development.  I’m excited to see their ideas implemented and have a better understanding on their perspectives of what constitutes a good place.” said Mr Raymond Lee, Director of Planning, Planning Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Ms Mabelle Ma, Director of Development & Valuations at Swire Properties, said, “Our annual White Christmas Street Fair is all about reaching out and giving back to the community. This year, we’re going the extra mile and putting the project in the hands of the younger generation, offering them the opportunity and resources to dream big, try out innovative ideas, improve their skills, and most importantly, expand their horizons. We’re confident that the students’ creativity will bring a new level of energy to and further enhance our work of creating vibrant communities where people can work, live, stay and thrive.”

During the six-month project internship, the winning teams will be mentored, receive professional support from Swire Properties and be based out of Blueprint, the Company’s premium co-working hub that offers flexible work and state-of-the-art event space.

They will be coached by industry professionals, at the newly-launched Swire Properties Placemaking Academy, who will help them refine and bring their ideas to life. Master classes – on a broad range of subjects including design & planning, social value creation, stakeholder engagement, and event planning & implementation – will be a key part of the project. The classes will be hosted by Swire Properties’ senior management, business leaders, academics, architects and NGOs. 

Held in early December, the Swire Properties White Christmas Street Fair is the Company’s large-scale annual year-end community event that takes place on Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place to raise funds for Operation Santa Claus. Last year, the Street Fair saw some 50,000 visits during its three-day run on Tong Chong Street, and over the years the event has raised over HK$5 million for charity.