The Malacofauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, III: Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on the Malacofauna of Hong Kong and Southern China, Hong Kong, 13 April-1 May 1992

Annotation. Following a three-yearly cycle, an international Workshop on the Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong was convened at Wu Kai Sha on the banks of Tolo Harbour in the New Territories of Hong Kong. from April 2-24, 1986, 46 scientists and post-graduate students from eleven countries, assisted by divers and technicians, investigated many aspects of Hong Kong's marine life. the marine flora and fauna of Hong Kong, indeed southern China, is poorly known and increasing levels of pollution are destroying much of it before it can be documented and studied. International research on Hong Kong's natural and polluted environments is thus urgently needed to assist local scientists in formulating management plans,

The Proceedings of the Workshop contain sixty-four original papers dealing with many aspects of the taxonomy, ecology, behaviour, morphology and physiology of local species and with the effects of pollution upon them. All this research was initiated at the Workshop. It is thus an accurate record of what was done and what was achieved. In the pages of the Proceedings, however, the reader may also gain a glimpse of the friendship and comradeship created by the workshop concept.

The Workshop was a part of the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the University of Hong Kong and was sponsored by the University, by the Regional Office for Science and Technology for Southeast Asia (Unesco), by the Commonwealth Foundation and by the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong. Such bodies have a deep interest in international co-operation, scientific research and environmental education and management. Many other organizations and institutions lent support in the provision of funds enabling national scientists and students to attend. a workshop is very cost effective and puts many scientists 'in the field' in places where they are needed. Such scientists return again and again to each workshop and as workshops have now also been convened in Australia (1988) and Porlugal (1988) it is clear that the concept works for everybody's benefit. the real success of workshops, however, lie in the willingness of the participants to co-operate in the venture and enjoy themselves. the fruits of this co-operation and endeavour are now available, in these Proceedings, for all to read.