Aspiring to be the first “Bamboo University” in Hong Kong, Hang Seng Management College (HSMC) extensively made use of bamboo for its high regeneration rate and durability as construction materials and interior furniture in its new buildings. To convey green living concepts and the message “Doing-it-yourself instead of Buying it” to students, HSMC worked with Bamboo Bicycles Beijing (BBB) to coorganise a bamboo bicycle workshop from January 23 to 26 on campus. After the four-day handcraftsmanship, four bamboo bicycles were built and open for a test-ride.

HSMC arranged a test-ride activity in showcasing the student crew’s production. We were honoured to have President Simon Ho and Mr David Wang, the Founder of BBB, to host the activity in spreading green ideas of energy-saving and sustainable living.

At the test-ride activity, President Simon Ho said the bamboo bicycle workshop was the first of its kind in Hong Kong. It not only broadened our students’ horizons, but also encouraged them to do healthy cycling which contributes to conservation of the environment. He was happy to see this meaningful activity being held on campus along with the application of bamboo in the College’s construction and design features.

During his 6-year of stay in China, Mr David Wang, the Founder of BBB and a Beijing-based Chinese American, produced about 100 bamboo bicycles. He is a very passionate bamboo bicycle builder who wishes he could raise the public interest in bicycle riding and using bicycles for people’s daily commute through handicraft workshops. He added, “HSMC students are energetic and ardent. They brought me a fun and cheerful workshop which I had not experienced back in Beijing.”

Students who took part in the workshop expressed they have gained better understanding on bicycle structure and parts; while some of them realised that they were empowered and should make effort to protect the environment.

HSMC anticipated there would be a lot more cooperative projects on sustainability with external parties in the future. The bamboo bicycles built in this event will be open for auction at the HSMC Founders’ Day Dinner on 16 March 2015. All funds raised will be used to support student development and campus expansion projects of the College.