Anniversaries are more than just milestones in a company’s story. They are an ideal opportunity to spend time with people we value in a setting that makes equals of us all: Nature.

More than 280 CLP employees, family members, and friends took part in the "Hike, Hunt, Have Fun" event at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) over a weekend in November as part of CLP’s 120th anniversary celebrations.

The KFBG is one of the most important nature conservation organisations in Hong Kong. It has more than 40 dedicated experts devising nature-based solutions to climate change, preserving endangered plant and animal species, and educating people about sustainable living.

The November gathering reconnected employees with the company’s philanthropic and environmental roots, while raising money to support the KFBG’s nature conservation and sustainability programmes.

Exercising bodies and souls

The weekend featured an eight-kilometre hike on its first day and a treasure hunt on the following day, combining a healthy break from the work with environmental conservation education and a host of fun activities.

The hike was led by CLP Holdings Chief Executive Officer Richard Lancaster and CLP Power Managing Director TK Chiang, with many management team members joining the trek through some of Hong Kong’s most stunning landscapes.

“While enjoying this precious time with families and friends, I hope our employees will also take time to appreciate the efforts that go behind maintaining this beautiful environment, none of which should be taken for granted,” says Mr Lancaster.

The hike took in some of the most scenic parts of the KFBG, including Kwun Yum Shan, the Kadoorie Brothers Memorial Pavilion, the four pillars from the old Central Post Office, and Signpost Corner.

On every step of the way, employees were able to learn about Hong Kong’s flora and fauna while enjoying stunning views across the New Territories countryside.

The hike also reminded employees how the KFBG evolved from the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association set up in the 1950s to support villagers into a celebrated reserve that puts people in touch with nature.

On the second day of the weekend, the KFBG was transformed into a landscape of hidden treasure for a hunt led by Chief Human Resources Officer Eileen Burnett-Kant.

Building a sustainable future

As well as bringing employees together in an idyllic countryside setting, the weekend’s activities sent out the message that protecting nature is the shared responsibility of every individual, company, and organisation.

Sustainability is a core value at CLP, and a central part of its work to create a healthier and brighter future for Hong Kong and its people.

Employees are at the frontline of that mission. Their behaviour and example as champions of sustainability are essential to shaping a greener tomorrow, not only for their own children but for generations to come.