Sustainability Report 2019/20

Targets and Outlook

In 2019/20, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) set 66 sustainability-related targets, covering environmental (41 items), social (21 items) and economic (4 items) aspects. All of the targets set are achieved. Details of our targets achieved in 2019/20 and the targets set for 2020/21 are shown as follows:

Environmental Targets

Environmental Awareness and Participation

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
1	Review and monitor environmental awareness in public rental housing (PRH) by conducting surveys biennially.	Fully met	The next survey will be conducted in 2021
2	Monitor environmental awareness of the HA staff and enhance general awareness by reviewing and implementing training and publicity strategies.	Fully met	To be maintained
3	Collaborate with green groups to conduct environmental awareness programmes in PRH estates.	Fully met	To be maintained
4	Enhance the environmental performance of contractors on site through environmental management plan and use of environmentally sound construction method.	Fully met	To be maintained
5	Promote PRH tenants’ awareness and participation related to waste separation at source, waste reduction and green management initiatives through various publicity channels such as Estate Management Advisory Committees (EMAC) newsletters and activities, broadcasting of Announcement of Public Interest, rolling text or video in Housing Channel and other joint activities with green groups.	Fully met	To be maintained
6	Promote environmental message to HA staff by displaying environmental issues at HA Headquarters (HAHQ) Green Corner.	Fully met	To be maintained
7	Enhance staff environmental awareness and knowledge by organising seminars related to Waste Management Plan, legislation updates and general seminars on environmental issues and campaigns to promote environmental protection.	Fully met	To be maintained
8	Enhance community awareness of environmental protection by organising programmes to promote environmental protection messages.	Fully met	To be maintained

Energy Efficiency

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
9	Reduce the electricity consumption of building services installations in communal areas of new domestic blocks.	Fully met	To be maintained
10	Adopt green design for building services equipment by conducting carbon emission estimation for projects with domestic blocks and energy estimation of domestic blocks for projects at detailed design stage.	Fully met	To be maintained
11	Explore, study and adopt the application of more energy efficient equipment, including mass application of LED bulkhead lightings at the communal areas of all newly designed domestic blocks; implementation of environmental lighting controls using motion-sensors and push buttons at the communal areas of all domestic blocks; and implementation of gearless lift and regenerative power for lift with a capacity of 8kW or above in all new projects under design.	Fully met	To be maintained
12	Conduct Carbon Audit in the 14 PRH blocks representing the majority of PRH block types for monitoring and benchmarking purpose, and investigate measures for energy reduction when the building carbon emission is found exceeding the baseline figure.	Fully met	To be maintained
13	Perform various initiatives to reduce 5% electricity consumption compared to 2013/14 for the HA office premises under comparable operating conditions.	Fully met	To reduce 5.5% compared to 2013/14

Greening and Landscaping

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
14	Provide green treatment to newly formed slopes such as hydroseeding, planting or other appropriate green treatments to soil, rock and other slope surfaces.	Fully met	To be maintained
15	Add new vegetation and promote greening in new housing estates by planting trees in all new housing estates targeting at minimum one tree per 15 flats and conduct annual tree survey to ensure all new housing estates meet the target; and achieving an overall target of 30% green coverage and at least 20% for public housing developments at planning, design and implementation stage.	Fully met	To be maintained
16	Improve the slope appearance in existing PRH estates by providing green treatment to hard surfaced slopes and improving the existing vegetated slopes; and improve Chunam surfaces through hydroseeding, stone pitching and toe planters.	Fully met	To be maintained
17	Promote local residents and the community to participate in early plant raising for new housing estates.	Fully met	To be maintained
18	Promote community involvement in greening of the new PRH estates by introducing communal planting areas/community farms in master landscape layout plan at design stage and encourage PRH residents to participate in gardening and planting works within their own estates for recreation and education purposes.	Fully met	To be maintained
19	Re-landscape and upgrade the existing landscape facilities in the 20 selected PRH estates by planting more trees and flowers through Landscape Improvement Programme.	Fully met	To be maintained
20	Promote community participation and increase tenants’ awareness in greening of PRH estates, in collaboration with the EMAC, through organising greening activities in the 20 estates, such as tree planting days.	Fully met	To be maintained
21	Promote staff/ tenant involvement in greening activities.	Fully met	To be maintained

Hazardous Material Management

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
22	Abate the existing asbestos containing materials in the HA construction sites by implementing proper asbestos removal works in demolition.	Fully met	To be maintained
23	Implement asbestos abatement programme in PRH estates by promulgating and enhancing publicity of locations and proper handling of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM); enhancing regular monitoring system on ACM; formulating the asbestos abatement programme; arranging regular training seminars or briefings; and reminding project team to take proper mitigation measures.	Fully met	To be maintained
24	Control hazardous materials to minimise harm to environment by collecting all disposed mercury-containing lamps in HAHQ for special waste treatment.	Fully met	To be maintained

Waste Management and 4Rs¹

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
25	All softwood and at least 50% of all timber used for all types of timber doors in the new public housing developments shall be from sustainable sources in compliance with BEAM Plus (New Building) requirement.	Fully met	To be maintained
26	Use timber from sustainable sources for temporary works during construction.	Fully met	To be maintained
27	Enhance the use of “green” materials and components.	Fully met	To be maintained
28	Arrange publicity activities in PRH estates to promote recycling of domestic waste for paper by not less than 26,500 tonnes.	Fully met	To recycle not less than 27,000 tonnes
29	Arrange publicity activities in PRH estates to promote recycling of domestic waste for aluminium cans by not less than 1,350 tonnes.	Fully met	To recycle not less than 1,400 tonnes
30	Arrange publicity activities in PRH estates to promote recycling of domestic waste for plastic bottles by not less than 1,750 tonnes	Fully met	To recycle not less than 1,800 tonnes
31	Promote recovery of domestic waste for used clothes by allowing charity organisations to collect used clothing and to promote used clothes recovery in PRH estates.	Fully met	To be maintained
32	Promote recovery of glass bottles for recycling by arranging joint publicity activities with green groups in PRH estates.	Fully met	To be maintained
33	Promote recovery of rechargeable batteries by arranging publicity activities in PRH estates.	Fully met	To be maintained
34	Reduce domestic waste by promoting waste reduction through various publicity campaigns such as EMAC newsletters and activities, and other joint activities with green groups.	Fully met	To be maintained
35	Promote waste separation at source and green management initiatives by implementing source separation of domestic waste programmes in all estates; and setting up collection point in the PRH estates for collecting domestic recyclable from tenants with incentives such as cash or household sundries for exchange.	Fully met	To be maintained
36	Use environment-friendly paper for printing of all publicity materials.	Fully met	To be maintained
37	Perform various initiatives to reduce 3% A3 and A4 paper consumption compared to 2013/14 in all the HA offices under comparable operating conditions.	Fully met	To reduce 3.5% compared to 2013/14
38	Perform various initiatives to encourage paper recycling for not less than 37 kg per staff.	Fully met	To be maintained

¹ 4Rs include Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Replace.

Water Conservation

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
39	Use 6-litre single or dual flush water-closet suites in all new building projects to reduce flushing water consumption.	Fully met and completed*	--
40	Reduce irrigation water consumption by providing Zero Irrigation Systems (ZIS) or other types of root-zone irrigation systems in all new building projects.	Fully met	To be maintained
41	Perform various initiatives to reduce 2% water consumption compared to 2015/16 for the HA Headquarters under comparable operating conditions.	Fully met	To reduce 2.5% compared to 2015/16

* Use of water closet of prescribed water efficiency grading registered under Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme has become a mandatory requirement on 1 December 2020 according to the WSD's Circular Letter No.11/2019.

Stakeholder Engagement

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
1	Continue the implementation of the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement in all PRH estates and non-domestic premises to enhance the living and business environment.	Fully met	To be maintained
2	Conduct various initiatives for the HA staff, for example, activities organised by the HA Staff Club.	Fully met	To be maintained
3	Maintain active communications with staff and obtain feedback to enhance operational effectiveness.	Fully met	To be maintained
4	Continue to actively work with relevant stakeholders to promote better understanding of the HA’s policies and initiatives through different publicity channels.	Fully met	To be maintained

Safety Management

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
5	Continue to closely monitor the contractors’ performance through mechanisms such as the Performance Assessment Scoring System (PASS), Building Services PASS, Piling PASS, Demolition PASS, Maintenance Assessment Scoring System (MASS), Lift MASS, Housing Authority Safety Auditing System (HASAS), HASAS (Maintenance & Improvement), Surprise Safety Inspection Programme and Housing Authority Lift and Escalator Nominated Sub- contracts Safety Auditing System, surprise safety inspections for building maintenance works, surprise checks of lift works contractors for lift term maintenance and lift modernisation works.	Fully met	To be maintained
6	Continue to tighten monitoring of contractors with high accident rates through occupational injury alerts and warning systems.	Fully met	To be maintained
7	Continue to tighten control measures for high-risk operations on site.	Fully met	To be maintained
8	Continue to hold regular seminars and forums on best safety practices with the participation of contractors and project teams.	Fully met	To be maintained
9	Continue to partner with industry stakeholders in territory- wide safety campaigns and publicity.	Fully met	To be maintained
10	Continue to provide safety training for our works staff, e.g. Refresher Site Safety PASSPORT Web Course for works staff and Occupational Safety & Health Courseware for maintenance works and estate management staff through e-Learning Portal.	Fully met	To be maintained
11	Continue to enhance personal protective equipment for contractors’ site personnel and our works staff.	Fully met	To be maintained
12	Continue to develop mobile applications to streamline management of safety, quality and productivity on site.	Fully met	To be maintained
13	Continue to issue best practice alerts to contractors, service providers and frontline staff.	Fully met	To be maintained
14	Continue to implement measures to enhance road and roadside work safety for cleaning and security service providers.	Fully met	To be maintained
15	Continue to improve safety of office operations with potential health and safety risks.	Fully met	To be maintained
16	Continue to study the specification enhancement for provision of sunshade of gondola.	Fully met and completed	--
17	Continue to explore enhancements in contract provisions for safety innovation/measures.	Fully met	To be maintained
18	Continue to review the Integrated Pay for Safety, Environment and Hygiene Scheme.	Fully met	To be maintained
19	Explore enhancements in contract requirements by including good safety measures.	Fully met	To be maintained
20	Continue to develop standardised oral commands with Occupational Safety & Health Council for the pointing- and-calling practice used by contractors in high risk activities.	Fully met	Continue to promote oral commands for the pointing-and-calling practice used by contractors in high risk activities
21	Adopt universal design for all ages and abilities in modular flats, communal facilities and integrated community play areas, and implement barrier-free access to PRH block entrances, strategic estate facilities and transportation nodes to enhance safety, accessibility and spatial equity in the community.	Fully met	To be maintained

Economic Targets

	Targets for 2019/20	2019/20 progress	Targets for 2020/21
1	Implement the PRH rent adjustment mechanism.	Fully met	As per established practice, PRH rent is reviewed every two years. The next PRH rent review will be conducted in Q3 2022.
2	Continue to minimise the vacancy of the PRH estates.	Fully met	To be maintained
3	Conduct tenancy control and education campaigns with an aim to reduce abuse of housing resources.	Fully met	To be maintained
4	Continue to review older estates and enhance their preventive maintenance and restoration.	Fully met	To be maintained