In its Annual Report on Corruption and Malpractice in the Civil Service (2011), the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) notes that compared to 2010, the number of corruption complaints concerning the Housing Department (HD) received by the Commission in 2011 increased by some 40% from 43 to 61. These complaints were mostly about corrupt connivance at substandard performance of contractors, unnecessary works orders and impropriety in the award of government contracts. The upward trend has persisted according to the statistics recently released by ICAC. The number of corruption complaints relating to the HD received by the Commission increased by some 40% in the first 11 months of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.

We understand from ICAC that most of the corruption complaints concerning the HD were not substantiated and the corruption trend in the department has remained generally steady and under control. There is, however, no room for complacency. We should be mindful of the negative impact on our image and standing that inevitably results merely from the rise in complaints.

In managing a public housing network providing home to one-third of Hong Kong’s population, many of our staff deliver services that directly affect people’s livelihood. It is natural that the public expects us to perform fairly and effectively at all times.

Another area of concern arises from our use of contracting-out services/works. This has become part of our established mode of operation, but we must stay conscious of the fact that ultimate delivery of all services/works remains our own responsibility. Effective site supervision is particularly important with the adoption of non-standard public housing designs and the increasing complexity of site and topographical conditions. We should always bear in mind that we hold the ultimate supervisory accountability for administering a fair, corrupt-free and efficient process of contract award and implementation.

With this in mind, it is appropriate for us to ask ourselves how we should discharge our duties in an ethical manner, with the highest level of integrity and professional standards.

I have heard from many colleagues that their biggest concern relates to our manpower situation. We need to ensure we have sufficient staff to allow us to deliver our services effectively and perform our supervisory role properly. Adequate manpower is undoubtedly important but we must never overlook the fact that we should keep ourselves abreast of (i) the ethical requirements set by the law; (ii) the “corruption risks” inherent to our duties; and (iii) the “DOs” and “DON’Ts” to avoid breaking the law in the context of our operations. There must be no shortcuts.

The booklet on the common law offence of Misconduct in Public Office (MIPO) recently published by the Civil Service Bureau is a useful reference for us to keep abreast of the law and guard against breaking it. It explains, in layman’s term, how and why malpractices having no obvious connection with bribery are actionable under the law.

In collaboration with the ICAC, we are organising Integrity Management Workshops for Directorate Officers to be held on 29 and 31 January 2013. These will provide a forum for directorate officers to catch up on the latest corruption issues and to perhaps learn how, in the peculiar context of HD’s operations, we can stay away from corruption risks and plug loopholes that may arise. ICAC speakers will talk about MIPO, conflict of interests and supervisory accountability, drawing from their valuable enforcement experience and insight obtained from HD’s assignment studies. I would like to appeal to all directorate colleagues to make the most out of the Workshop. You have an important job not only to understand these issues but to set an example to colleagues and to cascade the integrity message down the line.

I have said before how I consider staff training to be essential to the Department and the individual officer alike. In this case, the workshops will help foster a better awareness of the required standards of conduct and integrity. In collaboration with ICAC, we will continue to organise mandatory integrity training and Integrity Reinforcement Seminars respectively for new appointees and serving colleagues. I look to all to participate actively in these training opportunities.

Upholding and fostering a culture of integrity in HD must be a common goal. Success requires our joint and sustained efforts.

As colleagues are no doubt aware, every year at about this time we issue a seasonal reminder on the acceptance of advantages. This was circulated recently. Well this year, I want to add my own words of encouragement: “be careful, be safe and be happy!” I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

D W Pescod
Director of Housing

It is the consecutive third year that the Housing Authority (HA) was honoured in the Hong Kong Green Awards organised by the Green Council in recognition of its excellent achievement of green practices. The HA was commended with the Platinum Award, the highest award in the large corporation category, in both the Green Purchasewi$e Award and the Green Management Award, and also the Stakeholder Engagement Award, the most honourable award in the Stakeholder Engagement category, in the newly set up Corporate Green Governance Award.

At the award presentation ceremony held on 6 December, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing) Mr D W Pescod said that the HA has been committed to environmental protection. All the environmental initiatives are fully supported by different divisions of the Housing Department. Substantial resources have been allocated to support the implementation of environmental measures. He stressed the importance of driving behavioural change among HA’s staff, its building partners, and public housing tenants, in a bid to attain green purchasing, green management and green governance.

The awards programme, initiated by the Green Council together with 30 supporting organisations, aims to encourage large corporations as well as small and medium enterprises in Hong Kong to adopt environmental considerations and green management practices, and bear green responsibility in their operation; and to commend continuous improvement and corporate leadership in the orgainisation’s green pursuits. Over 60 organisations, from both the public and private sectors, participated in the competition this year.

In pursuit of continual improvement in the sustainability performance of public rental housing (PRH) estates, the Housing Authority (HA) has recently explored the application of the Sustainable Building Index (SBI) and completed a pilot study of 11 PRH blocks in three estates, namely Sau Mau Ping South, Sheung Lok and Tin Chak.

The SBI is a benchmarking scheme newly launched by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA), based on the United Nations Environmental Programme – Sustainable Buildings and Construction Initiative’s Financial and Sustainability Metrics Report 2009 and the relevant ISO Standards on building sustainability. We are glad that the sustainability performance of all the 11 PRH blocks are found above the norm and are granted with the Verified Mark. The HA is the first organisation in Hong Kong with the HKQAA SBI Verified Mark.

In his speech on the topic of “Striving For Sustainability in Existing Public Housing” at the HKQAA Symposium 2012 held on 30 November, Assistant Director of Housing (Estate Management) Mr Chan Siu-tack highlighted the HA’s contribution to building sustainability in environmental, social and economic aspects through a strategic plan covering corporate, operational and community levels. He also shared with the industry practitioners and delegates the experience in the SBI pilot study.

Apart from benchmarking the sustainability performance of individual building, the SBI quantifiable indicators also reveal areas that require improvement. For example, we can make use of the greenhouse gas emission measurement, which reflects the resources consumed per internal floor area, to plan for more energy saving measures and review our design for future projects. In the coming two years, the HA will strategically select more estates which cover the majority of the block type designs for enrollment to the SBI Scheme, so as to gauge the sustainability performance of different block types and to analyse the results for formulating the long term maintenance and improvement strategy.

“Homeward Bound to Tsui Ping”, the sixth episode of the “Community Impressions” video series produced by the Housing Authority (HA), was launched on 16 December. The story is about Miggy who was born in Tsui Ping Estate. As she grew up, she yearned to break through the confines of her living environment and explore the world. After some ups and downs, she returns to Tsui Ping and comes to appreciate that no matter how the world changes, things will be fine as long as home is still there.

The public can view the video on the Housing Authority / Housing Department Website, the HA’s facebook page “Public Housing Vistas”, as well as the HA’s channel on YouTube. A short version of the video is also running on the Housing Channel at the ground floor lobby of public housing blocks.