The Sustainable Development Unit held a Community Fair with the theme of "Sustainability and the Community" at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza on 18 January 2003 (Saturday). The main objective of the fair was to help raise public awareness of sustainable development in Hong Kong in a relaxed and informal setting and to stimulate interest in this issue.

The community fair featured booths from more than twenty environmental, business and social groups, government departments and schools, and included a variety of interactive games. There was also a children's play corner where youngsters could participate in creative and group games with their families and other children.

Performing arts shows were also featured, including drama, poetry reading and dancing performed by kindergarten children, a concert by a secondary school band, and dancing and martial arts demonstrations by the elderly.

Each participating organisation presented its vision for sustainable development in the form of a short message and displayed this at the fair. Many of the visitors also expressed their thoughts about sustainable development on our message board - the Butterfly Board and shared these ideas with others.

By the end of the day, about 8,000 people had visited the fair, including a large number of children and families, as well as quite a few overseas tourists. The general public reaction was very positive, and staff of the Unit received some very constructive feedback on the arrangements for the fair, as well as a few requests to mount a similar event later in the year.