About Freedom Ball

Freedom Ball questions whether the Hong Kong government controls the use of public space for the benefit of Hong Kong people.

We do this through simple and striking interventions in public spaces which encourage the public to engage directly with activities which are currently banned in the space.

The principles of our interventions are that they challenge the rules in a way that is positive and engaging and encourage the public to join in actively.

Our aim is to change the way that public spaces are managed, designed and controlled so that they meet the needs of Hong Kong people.

自由波向政府質疑: 政府控制公共空間的使用是否有利於公眾利益。

我們通過在公共场所舉辮一些簡單而又引起大家矚目的行動:鼓勵公眾直接參與一些仍然被禁的活動。

這些行動的宗旨就是: 大家用正面而又有趣的形式鼓勵公眾積極投入這類活動,挑戰僵化規條。

我們的目的在於改變公共空間的設計和管理模式, 最終能符合香港市民的需要。


Monday, November 23, 2009

A Happy Sunday

Well I'd been worried about what the weather would be like but woke up to a perfect sunny day on Sunday and we headed off to Shatin where our biggest Freedom Ball intervention so far went off really well.

Many thanks to everyone who came along and especially to those who came and helped inflate the balls, you guys worked really hard and we couldn't have done it without you. Also the team of interviewers who did video interviews and filled out questionnaires with the public.

The park users who came to the park that day were great too and helped make the day the fun and positive event we were hoping for. Many people even stayed behind and helped us deflate the balls when it came time to pack up. We're starting to process the feedback from the public and I will edit the video footage in the next few days (thanks Violet!) and link to it. In the meantime check out the photos that are coming in to the Facebook Group here: Photos.

As well as the interviews and questionnaires we had a lot of interesting conversations with press, public and even park management, who have responded positively to the issues raised by Freedom Ball. Rest assured that we will be working on keeping the momentum going and on exploring how to turn words into real action to make Hong Kong parks better places for Hong Kong people.

SCMP article

The SCMP ran an article about Sunday's event on the front of the City section of today's paper, which is great. However the last paragraph was slightly misleading in that it suggested that the new park in Ap Lei Chau had been built taking into account Freedom Ball's concerns about park design.

I want to make it clear that this is in fact not the case. We have been talking to the LCSD about changes to park design and as part of that process we visited the new park in Ap Lei Chau to see where the LCSD is going in in terms of park design but the park was designed and indeed built before we started talking to the LCSD.

I just want to make that clear because:

a) We don't want to take credit for any improvements in park design that there may have been at Ap Lei Chau as we weren't involved until after the park had been built.

b) Whilst there have been some steps in a positive direction at Ap Lei Chau (there are no fenced-off sections and there is a small open grass area for example) it isn't our idea of an ideal park design either.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Facebook

Just wanted to let remind everybody who came along to Shatin today that we have a Facebook Group where you can share pictures, video and comments or feedback about the event or about parks in general.

The Facebook Group is here: Facebook Group

A big thanks to everybody who helped out today, I'll post more about it tomorrow.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Big One!

Well, we've finally confirmed the details for the big Freedom Ball event we've been planning. It will be at Shatin Park on Sunday 22nd November from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

The event will be on a much larger scale than those we have done before so if you can come along and help out with interviewing, recording, photographing or just helping to inflate and distribute balls we’d really appreciate it, just get in touch via the e-mail link on the right. We’re expecting that the scale of the event will generate a fair amount of press coverage and stimulate debate on the issue within the community.

One encouraging development is that in recent meetings with the LCSD they have indicated that they are prepared to take on board feedback from the public on the key issues so please come along and express your views about Hong Kong's parks and we’ll try to see if we can get real changes implemented.

Or just come and play ball!

See you there!

各位朋友:
大規模的自由波行動己籌備妥當! 將於十一月二十二日(星期天¬)沙田公園舉行.

由於規模大了, 您的參與更為重要: 您可協助採訪市民; 錄影; 攝影; 充氣及派發自由波等, 有心的朋友請電邮右角的邮址報名吧。熱切期望此行動能引發大量媒介的報道及激發大眾對公共空間的討論。

另外一個好消息是康文署愿意收集各位的意見, 請您們就香港公園的使用各抒己见, 共同爭取真正的改善。
一齊過來玩波啦!

到時见!