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Alumni In Conversation

Natural flavours of Hong Kong
百份百「香港味道」

For two alumni, sustainable development is not a catchphrase but a career and a way to celebrate the Hong Kong spirit
建構有機農業生態鏈，發揚可持續發展理念；本土製作，緬懷香港集體回憶
Kim Chan Ka-yee (left)
陳家儀（左）
BA (Hons) Language Studies (Chinese)
語文學（中文）榮譽文學士
Founder, kimature
kimature 創辦人
Wong Yu-wing (right)
黃如榮（右）
BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering
電子工程學榮譽工學士
Owner, AuLaw Organic Farm
歐羅有機農場負責人
Founder, AuLaw Organic Commons
歐羅有機共同體創辦人

Back to basics

Wong Yu-wing's AuLaw Organic Farm is located in Tai Kong Po Village in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. The well-established farm produces a huge variety of crops, ranging from corn to Chinese cabbage and okra, with many customers attracted to its healthy produce.

At the time of the interview, roselle flowers were in season and Yu-wing appeared carrying an armful of the cheerful blooms. “Seeds from freshly plucked roselle fruit must be removed one by one, and the fruit processed by hand before being taken to the market for sale,” he explained. “The tea it produces helps to reduce blood lipid levels and also has antioxidant properties.”

Working the land was not initially part of Yu-wing's plan. He had a highly successful career, and progressed through the ranks to become the general manager of an audio company. Then, in 2010, he decided to reinvent himself; he left his job, returned to his home village in Kam Tin, took up his parents' farming business, and became an organic farmer.

Discussions between Yu-wing (second left) and Francis Ngai (first right), a CityU Taekwondo Club alumnus known as the “Father of Social Enterprises”, brought a collaboration with a Sham Shui Po restaurant run by Chan Cheuk-ming (second right), whereby AuLaw supplies fresh organic vegetables to the eatery that serves the underprivileged.
黃如榮（左二）與同樣來自城大跆拳道學會的校友「社企之父」魏華星（右一）商討，促成了與人稱「深水埗明哥」的陳灼明（右二）合作，以優惠價錢為他的餐廳提供新鮮有機蔬菜，與基層家庭分享成果。

Yu-wing may appear to be a romantic, but he is also prudent and did not take his great adventure lightly. Indeed, such a major decision required considerable forethought and assessment, he noted. First, he had to make sure he was able to throw himself into the work wholeheartedly. Then, having decided he could, he knew he would be able to pursue his ultimate goal: to use his knowledge and skills to assist the development of Hong Kong's wider organic farming industry.

This he has done, with many people now enjoying the fruits of Yu-wing's labour through his “Tastes of Hong Kong” produce and his active support of many other farms that have since shown an interest in organic methods.

“It has been and still is hard work without huge financial returns,“ Yu-wing said. Yet the contentment such work has brought more than compensates for this. “Organic farming is not going to make me rich by any means,” he said.

The satisfaction I've gained has enriched me far more than any material assets could have.

Yu-wing

Creating an organic collective

Wong Yu-wing named his farm, AuLaw Organic Farm after being inspired by the European Union's “Euro” currency, which has a similar pronunciation in Chinese and a philosophy to which he adheres. “The Euro represents a collective force and the spirit of a united people,” he said. “When a group of producers or professionals share the same ideals about their work, the strength of such solidarity is bound to succeed eventually.”

Yu-wing also understands that for modern farmers to survive, they need to be both up-to-date with the latest cultivation methods as well as areas such as sales and marketing. With his CityU training in engineering, sales promotion, and digital marketing, he was thus in an ideal position to lead the way.

In September 2019, Yu-wing officially established the AuLaw Organic Commons to provide a platform to encourage small farms in the area to increase collaboration and mutual support. The goal is to achieve economies of scale by sharing labour and resources in management, sales, shipping, advertising, customer service, among others. “This is a win-win strategy that will benefit farmers and consumers,” he said.

The long-time alumnus is also introducing younger generations of CityU students to his organic ventures through his on-going connections as the University's main Taekwondo coach since 90's. “Keeping up this connection has given me the chance to get to know many younger CityU students, with some going on to become farm partners, provide IT support, or work as volunteers,” Yu-wing said. “I will always cherish the many memorable moments CityU given me.”

Yu-wing's goal of establishing the AuLaw Organic Commons is to unite local farmers and blend the special traits of Hong Kong's agricultural industry together to develop sustainable agriculture locally.
黃如榮創辦「歐羅有機共同體」的目標，是要團結本地農戶，並且融合香港農業的特性，設計出一個創新的生產模式，齊心推動智慧農業，令本地農業得以持續發展。

Back to nature

In the light breeze of early autumn, a gentle fragrance wafts from a corner of AuLaw Organic Farm, where white jade orchid is in full bloom, ready to be used for a captivating perfume that is entirely made in Hong Kong.

Kim Chan Ka-yee is the founder of a Hong Kong brand, kimature. Unlike many of her fellow Chinese language degree classmates, she did not become a teacher or editor after graduating from CityU. Instead, she chose to follow her interest in local plants, herbs, and Chinese medicine, embarking on the unusual path of manufacturing perfume and personal care products using native herbs and grasses. “This is the only way to release yourself from the lifestyle and environmental shackles holding you back."

To Kim, it seems that many people in Hong Kong have abandoned their dreams, choosing instead to eke out a living through long hours of work. “Financial considerations are not the only ones to think about,” she pointed out. “There are many other daring choices you can make to avoid falling into a rut or worrying about what tomorrow will bring.”
I believe a dream is something you can only achieve by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Kim

Tapping into local resources

Since establishing kimature, Kim has continued to research and develop a Lingnam plant-based formulation. “The environment shapes its people” as the Chinese saying goes. So why should personal care products be any different, she said. “French lavender, American marigolds, and Japanese sakura are all used in premium personal care products. If these types of imported products are popular with local users, why not make use of the abundant natural resources available in Hong Kong, such as Chinese mugwort and oriental motherwort, to do the same? Not only will products made from native ingredients be truly suitable for the climate here, they have the added benefit of giving customers an authentic Hong Kong experience as well.”

Since large amounts of plants are needed to manufacture personal care products, partnering with a local organic farm is mutually beneficial for both businesses. Three years ago, Kim met AuLaw Organic Farm's Wong Yu-wing at a Farmers' Market. They went on to discover their views on the local green economy were similar, with both wanting the local organic farming industry and sustainable development to establish a larger footprint and AuLaw's becoming one of kimature's ingredient suppliers. A year later, Kim chose to hold her wedding at the farm to show her friends how the farmland has transformed her.

Capturing the essence of Hong Kong

Kim's white jade orchid perfume has been well received in the local market, with kimature heralding the idea of collective memories as its spirit. “Many customers have told us that every time they smell the flower's unique scent, childhood memories resurface,” she said. “Looking ahead, we hope that white jade orchid is just a starting point. We will continue to develop locally and overseas natural products with an oriental flair to celebrate the Hong Kong story.”

回歸基本

黃如榮的農場位於元朗錦田大江埔村，多年來堅持採用有機耕作方式，種植百多種農作物，如粟米、秋葵等，均深受歡迎。我們採訪時正值洛神花盛放的時候，滿園盛放的景緻煞是好看。黃如榮雙手捧著洛神花對我們說：「剛採下的洛神花果實，要用人手逐顆取核、晒乾，才能拿到農墟出售。沖泡出來的茶，喝了有助調節體內血脂濃度，還有抗氧化功效呢！」

說黃如榮是一個既浪漫又踏實的追夢者，相信絕不為過。浪漫者，是他放棄大學畢業後在職場平步青雲，晉升至音響公司總經理的高薪厚職，2010年毅然返回元朗錦田老家接手父母的農莊，當起有機農夫；踏實者，他絕非一時衝動，單憑一腔熱血而作出此大膽決定。而是一直埋首苦幹，為的就是要身體力行，推動香港有機農業發展，並且積極擔當領袖角色，支持更多小農戶加入有機耕作行列，讓追求健康的人，都能吃到新鮮的「香港味道」，發揮農業對社會的正面價值。
有機耕種不能為我賺很多錢，甚至連物質層面的生活質素也比不上以前，但因為有信念支持，精神層面的滿足感實在無法言喻。

黃如榮

創建有機共同體

黃如榮為農場取名為「歐羅有機農場」，靈感正是來自歐洲共同體的「歐羅」。他解釋：「歐羅所展現的是一種群策群力、眾志成城的精神，同行者抱著相同夢想和信念，各司其職，發揮團結力量，最終必會取得成功。」

他深明現代農夫不能只懂得耕種，還要具備多元才能方可生存。他想運用在城大所學到的各種知識，例如機械工程、市場推廣、數碼營銷等。有見及此，黃如榮在2019年9月正式成立了「歐羅有機共同體」作為支援平台，和鄰近的小農戶深化合作，務求在日常管理、銷售、送貨、宣傳、接待訪客等各個工序方面，都以共用人手、分享資源等方式達至經濟學中的「規模經濟」成效。黃如榮說：這將會是一個令所有農戶和廣大消費者都直接受惠的多贏方案。」

除了是農業專家外，黃如榮畢業後更在母校擔任跆拳道隊主教練至今，與母校這一份緊密連繫，讓他有機會結識許多年輕校友，當中有些還為他的有機農場提供資訊科技等義務支持，有些成為農場的合作夥伴，為他的人生添上許多豐富精彩片段。

回歸自然

初秋時份的黃昏，微風送爽，歐羅有機農場的一隅，傳來一抹淡雅的芳香，原來是園內含羞綻放的朵朵白蘭花，悄悄地散發著獨特的幽香。它們都是為本地一間嶄新個人護理產品公司而悉心栽種，用以製作「香港製造的白蘭花香水」。

創立 kimature 品牌的陳家儀，離開校園後，並沒有像同系的同學一樣當上教師或編輯，反而順著自己酷愛鑽研本地草本和中醫藥漢方的興趣，踏上了以原生益草作原料，製作個人護理產品的創業之路。

Kim Chan hopes her products can raise greater awareness of organic farming.
陳家儀期望品牌能喚起更多市民關注本地有機農業發展。

年紀輕輕的陳家儀認為，生活在香港，許多人都選擇為了生計而放棄夢想，勞碌奔波度過大半生。她說：「其實除了考慮『錢途』之外，還有很多出路可放膽選擇，不必讓自己活得這麼『悶』，更毋須為明天憂慮。」

夢想是明知不可而為之，唯有實際行動衝出舒適區，才能掙脫人生與環境的桎梏。

陳家儀

尋覓吾鄉吾土情懷

創辦 kimature 後，陳家儀不斷鑽研嶺南植物配方。她認為，所謂「一方水土養一方人」，食物有不時不食的觀念，護膚品亦是不時不用。她解釋：「好像法國的薰衣草、美國的金盞花、日本的櫻花等，都是不少外國高級護理品牌的原材料。既然這些外地進口的產品都能深受本地用家歡迎，我們何不善加利用本地蘊藏的豐富原生益草資源，例如艾草、益母草、金銀花、雞骨草等，製造真正適合嶺南氣候、滿載百份百香港味道的護理用品？」

護理用品的生產過程，需要大量有機植物作為原材料，夥拍本地有機農場合作，自然是雙贏方案。三年前，陳家儀在一次農墟中認識了城大師兄黃如榮，彼此談及對本地綠色經濟的看法，發現大家理念非常相近，同樣希望讓本地有機農業能朝向可持續發展方向邁進，自此歐羅有機農場就成為了 kimature 的原材料供應商之一。兩年前，陳家儀更獲黃如榮答允，將農場化身為她的婚禮場地，讓她邀請親友來到這片生意盎然、對她具有特別意義的田園，見證她人生的重要時刻。

香味營銷    港人集體回憶

至於推出後深受市場歡迎的白蘭花香水，陳家儀稱， kimature 運用集體回憶為營銷概念。她解釋：「不少用家都說，每次聞到白蘭花獨有的清幽花香時，腦海中都會勾起許多塵封的兒時回憶。展望將來，我們希望以白蘭花為起點，繼續研發更多以東方情懷為賣點的草本產品，積極開拓海外市場，述說香港地道故事。」

For a personal care manufacturer, purchasing excellent, locally produced organic ingredients helps stabilise the supply chain. A winning combination for both partners.
對護理品生產商來說，採購這些本地優質有機原材料則可穩定供應，達成雙贏方案。

香味營銷    港人集體回憶

至於推出後深受市場歡迎的白蘭花香水，陳家儀稱， kimature 運用集體回憶為營銷概念。她解釋：「不少用家都說，每次聞到白蘭花獨有的清幽花香時，腦海中都會勾起許多塵封的兒時回憶。展望將來，我們希望以白蘭花為起點，繼續研發更多以東方情懷為賣點的草本產品，積極開拓海外市場，述說香港地道故事。」

For a personal care manufacturer, purchasing excellent, locally produced organic ingredients helps stabilise the supply chain. A winning combination for both partners.
對護理品生產商來說，採購這些本地優質有機原材料則可穩定供應，達成雙贏方案。