About this Report
This Sustainability Report 2008/09 (Hereinafter "this Report"), "Sustainability: Balance and Harmony" is the fourth Sustainability Report published by the Hong Kong Housing Authority. It describes our commitments and efforts in building a sustainable living environment, fostering harmonious and caring communities for our residents. It also provides a detailed account of our activities within the framework of sustainability management in the three areas of economic, social and environmental activities. In addition, this Report describes our management performances and presents future plans.
Report Scope
This report represents an annual review of HA's sustainability practices and achievements from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 for public rental housing estates owned by the HA, and for new developments under planning and construction. There were no joint ventures or subsidiaries operated by the HA. There was no significant change in the size, structure, scope of work and ownership of the HA during the reporting period. There are no specific limitations on the scope of the report.
Statistics, presented as absolute figures, have been normalised into comparable terms where appropriate and practical. All numbers are as at 31 March 2009, unless otherwise stated. All monetary values are in Hong Kong Dollars. Information provided in our earlier sustainability reports is not restated herein.
Criteria
This Report is produced with reference to the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) G3 Guidelines and the GRI sector supplement for Public Agencies.
As part of our commitment to continually improve our sustainability reporting, we have prepared this year's report with reference to GRI-checked "A+" application level. A GRI Content Index is provided for easier reference with corresponding GRI indicators denoted in each section.
To enhance the Report's creditability, we have engaged an independent verifier to examine its completeness, accuracy and reliability. Verification result is summarised in the Assurance and Verification Section.
Along the years, we have successfully identified our diverse stakeholder groups. Key stakeholders include tenants and homeowners in our estates, business partners, our staff members, government colleagues, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), green groups, media and the public. We have proactively engaged them to consolidate their views and concerns, and react appropriately. This Report is arranged in response to their interests, with an emphasis on how we create harmonious living environment for our residents. Feedback on our last sustainability report has also been provided in this report.
GRI Content Index
| Content | GRI indicators addressed in the report | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Message from the Chairman | 1.1, 2.1 | |
| About this Report | 2.1 | |
| Report Scope | 2.9, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11 | |
| Criteria | 3.5, 3.13, 4.14, 4.15 | |
| GRI Content Index | 3.12, 4.3, EN17, EN19, EN20, EN30, LA5, HR1, HR2, SO8, PR9 | Please see remarks below |
| 2008 Highlights | ||
| Our Environmental Performance | ||
| Our Social Performance | ||
| Our Economic Performance | ||
| Stakeholder Engagement | ||
| Our Achievements and Awards | 2.10 | |
| About the Housing Authority | 2.5, 2.6, 2.7 | |
| Our Vision | 4.8, EC, EN, SO, PR, PA2, PA3, PA4, PA12 | |
| Our Role and Services | 2.2, 2.7, 2.8, EC8 | |
| Support and Participation | 4.12, 4.13, PA1 | |
| Significant Aspects | 1.2, 4.9, 4.11, PA3, PR1 | |
| Governance Structure & Management | ||
| Our Governance Structure | 2.3, 2.8, 4.1, 4.2, 4.7, PA1 | |
| Housing Department's Environmental, Health and Safety Committee | PA6 | |
| Our Management Approaches | EC6, EN, PA2, PA3, PA4, PA5, PA6, PA11, PA13 | |
| Employee Management | 4.5, 4.6, 4.10, LA, HR, EC3, EC7, LA1, LA2, LA4, LA5, LA12, LA13, LA14, HR4, HR5, HR6, HR7, SO2, SO3, SO4 | |
| Our Environmental Performance | EN28 | |
| Air | EN26 | |
| Estate Greening and Landscaping | EN26 | |
| Noise Control | EN26 | |
| Waste Management | EN1, EN2, EN22, EN26, EN27, 2.10 | |
| Energy | EC2, EN1, EN3, EN4, EN5, EN6, EN7, EN16, EN18, EN26 | |
| Water | EN1, EN8, EN21 (Partial), EN26 (Partial) | |
| Material Usage and Control of Hazardous Materials | EN23, EN26, PA14, PR3 | Please see remarks below |
| Micro-Climate Studies | EN6, EN26 | |
| Biodiversity Assessment | EN11, EN12 | |
| Our Social Performance | ||
| Improving Safety | SO, PR, PR1, PR9, LA7 | |
| Protecting Workers | HP2 | |
| Sustainable Living Environment | SO1, PA15, PR1 | |
| Estate Management | PA15 | |
| Enhancing Public Health and Hygiene | LA8, SO1 | |
| Fostering Harmonious Families | LA8 | |
| Staff Development and Participation | PR1, LA10 (Partial) | Please see remarks below |
| Our Economic Performance | EC | |
| Financial Performance | 2.8, EC1, EC4, PA8, PA9, PA10 | |
| Housing Rent Policy | SO1 | |
| Resource Optimisation | SO1, PR6 | |
| Operation with Cost-Effectiveness | SO1 | |
| Stakeholder Engagement | 4.4, 4.15 | |
| Community Engagement | 4.4, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, SO1, SO5, PR1, PA7 | |
| Engagement of Tenants and Business Partners | 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, PA7, PA15 | |
| Staff Engagement | 4.4, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, PA7 | |
| Case Study | SO1 | |
| Goals and Progress | PA5, PA6 | |
| Targets and Outlook | PA4, PA5 | |
| Assurance and Verification | 3.13 | |
| Feedback | 2.4, 3.4 |
Remarks:
4.3 - In HA, it does not adopt unitary board structure. Also, all members are appointed by the Chief Executive.
EN17 - No measurement mechanism is in place as we have captured major direct and indirect emission. But we will consider providing information in future reports by mid-term.
EN19 - Materials specified for use in building services installations such as refrigerants and fire-extinguishing agents shall comply with the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
EN20 - No measurement mechanism is in place as we do not generate significant NOx, SOx emissions.
EN30 - No mechanism to separately capture environmental protection expenditures and investments. We would consider to provide information in future reports by short-term.
LA5 - Following HA's internal circulars, no minimum notice period is required. But staff are informed and consulted regarding significant changes beforehand, and notices are issued as soon as possible.
HR1 - Significant investment agreements do not include human rights clauses or undergo human rights screening. But we will consider to provide information in future reports by long-term.
HR2 - No measurement mechanism in place as it is not a formal practice in local public agency, but hiring of illegal immigrants is prohibited under statute, and we award projects only to contractors with no criminal record in hiring illegal immigrants. All contractors are closely monitored on their convictions of employing illegal immigrants and incidents on wage disputes.
SO8 - No record of significant social non-compliance.
PR9 - No record of significant fines for non-compliance with product responsibility.
EC2 - No mechanism to separately capture total environmental expenditure in 2008/09, particularly related to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We would consider to provide information in future reports by mid-term.
EN23 - No record of significant spillage in our construction sites/estates.
LA10 - There is no measuring mechanism in place for training hours per employee. But, we would consider to provide information in future reports by short-term.