Assurance and Verification

Scope and Objectives

Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) was commissioned by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) to verify its Sustainability Report 2008/09 (hereinafter the "Report") which covers HA's economic, environmental and social performance during the fiscal year of 2008/09. The objectives of HKPC's verification work are to:

• Assess whether the Report covers all relevant issues in relation to HA's performance;
• Evaluate whether the selected statements and data presented in the Report are accurate;
• Review whether the data collection and information management systems used to prepare the Report are reliable; and
• Check whether the Report conforms to the Level A+ requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Guidelines.

Approach

Our verification procedures comprised a review of the Report, selection of a representative sample of statements and data and interviews with representatives from HA. During the interviews on 23 and 26 November 2009, the documented supporting materials relating to the selected statements and data as well as HA's management practices and sustainability initiatives were explained to and examined by our verifiers who were not involved in the development of the Report. However our verification work did not cover data and information which have already been published by the HA.

Results

Report Completeness

HA is commended for continually improving its sustainability reports. The Report conforms to Level A+ requirements of GRI G3 Guidelines and presents a balanced and comprehensive overview of HA's performance with respect to its core roles, responsibilities and activities. It provides an in-depth account on HA's waste management and energy conservation initiatives as well as its stakeholder engagement processes in managing various sustainability initiatives.

Report Accuracy

The selected statements and data examined during the verification process, with minor revisions for clarification purpose that were subsequently amended to HKPC's satisfaction, reflect an accurate account of HA's performance.

Report Reliability

The data collection and information management systems used to prepare the Report are generally considered to be effective and reliable.

K L Tsang
General Manager
Environmental Management Division
Hong Kong Productivity Council
9 December 2009