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"Lub-dub... Lub-dub... Lub-dub... I am so excited and delighted!” My heart was pounding as finally I got the chance to meet you all at the Hong Kong Book Fair 2013. Hello, nice to meet you, I am BYOB and I am the mascot for this BYOB green habit!

The annual Hong Kong Book Fair 2013 started on 19 July 2013 and was held for a consecutive of 7 days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), and it was as crowded as usual. When taking a closer look, you might well smell a fresh sense of “green” in the cultural atmosphere. Yes, a fresh sense of “green” was “emitted” from the Children's Paradise! What’s that?

Of course it’s me! To promote green living and to encourage all to adopt the green habit of BYOB, I have joined hands with the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and participated in the Book Fair 2013. This is EPD’s as well as my first appearance in this popular annual event. We have especially organized some games kiosks, exhibitions and workshops so as to enhance the public’s knowledge on the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags (the Levy Scheme) and its current developments. Look! My first appearance has attracted lots of attention and aroused much excitement. I was thrilled that I had received such a warm reception from the kids, youngsters and parents who took a lot of photos with me. I was so surprised and happy, and I would very much hope they will remember me, BYOB.

While books were of course the main theme for the Fair, our booth has also attracted many. Kids and parents participated in the green tips badge workshop and the game kiosk joyfully and enthusiastically. For the badge workshop, I saw children paying much effort in drawing and decorating their own BYOB badge on the blank side, while a cute cartoon figure was printed on the other side of the badge reminding people to BYOB. After they finished drawing, the kids could hook the BYOB badges onto their schoolbags or handbags, helping us to promote the green habit. For the games kiosk, participants are required to distinguish between different types of shopping bags, and maneuver the ping-pong to the BYOB box. Information on our waste management strategy, effectiveness of the first phase of the Levy Scheme, the gist of the proposed extension and different types of plastic bags and their impacts on environment were displayed on the information panels, giving food for thoughts for those more intellectual ones. Our staff had also guided the kids to think about the environmental impacts in abusing the use of plastic bags, and gave them practical green tips to follow. See how attentive the kids were!

The banner upcycling workshop was the highlight of the booth and most popular activity among all. Many kids, youths and parents orderly queued up at our booth well before the workshop started so as to secure a seat. Look at the endless queue! We had invited instructors from a renowned social enterprise to teach participants to upcycle waste banners into reusable bags, aiming to remind them on the green habit of reduce and recycle. Participants had all worked hard to “customize” their own banner bags using their creativity and artistic sense. Many also enjoyed the hardcore works in punching holes and tying strings to create their own unique banner bag. The booth was packed and the workshop has also attracted a lot of crowds trying to get a sense of upcycling, and all were amazed by how upcycling and reusing of waste could do for good. Participants were so happy to see how their effort could help turning waste banners into useful and distinctive goods.

“It was fun! Mom, look! I made this!” I heard an excited voice from a boy, who was rushing to his mother with his newly hand-made bag with a satisfactory smile on his face.

Let’s see what the adults think. “I think it is quite innovative and meaningful by integrating creativity and eco-elements into life. Banners are so common in HK and they are everywhere. Different organizations such as religious groups, schools and many small and medium enterprises use banners as promotional tools but the banners will soon become waste. As such I think it is a good model for reuse of resources and also it is eco-friendly to make use of these wastes and turn them into useful and unique goods.” One participant said.

Another participant said, “I think this handbag looks nice and is very practical. I have already put all the books I bought into this handbag."

The instructors of the workshop said, " Children enjoyed the whole process despite some steps are in fact a bit difficult for them. They are all satisfied as they paid some hard work in making the bag. I very much hope that they could learn from this workshop that we should all treasure the resources that we have.”

I am so touched and delighted that many enthusiastically supported and participated in our activities. Farewell for now, and I hope that you will remember me, and remember to BYOB, and continue to live green. Remember, wherever you shop, whatever you buy, you will help the environment by simply BYOB.