Geological Heritage of Hong Kong

Abstract:

Despite its reputation as a global city, Hong Kong actually has a rich geological heritage. Some geological localities within the country parks of Hong Kong are world-class showcases of geology. Deservedly, the country parks of Hong Kong was designated a Global Geopark in 2011. The purposes of Geoparks should be to protect, to educate, and to inspire. For one to be inspired, one must see beyond the aesthetics of the geological sites and learn to appreciate the complex processes that led to their formation. In this talk, the speaker will unveil the scientific messages hidden in our geological heritage, telling stories on rocks formed by microorganisms responsible for oxygenating our atmosphere and explaining why volcanic columns are ideally hexagonal in geometry. The talk also introduces many little known geological fascinations in Hong Kong, including Skull Island, Devil's Pile, and stalactite formations found in Hong Kong, etc. The speaker will share his attempt to encapsulate in his recent book the geological beauty of Hong Kong before it is conceded completely to artificial structures and concrete walkways.