With your valuable support and active participation of our members, partners and green leaders , this past year has proved to be the most exciting year in our quest to help businesses in Hong Kong pursue sustainable development. It is certainly a memorable time of remarkable change and growth.
We kicked off the year with a series of Public Consultation exercises and regional fora engaging the public for the Council of Sustainable Development on Quality and Sustainable Built Environment to help shape future policy. At the same time, we helped to set up and launch Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), in collaboration with Construction Industry Council, BEAM Society and Professional Green Building Council. We also serve as its secretariat office.
To quote Mr John Tsang, Financial Secretary, HKSAR, "The vision of HKGBC is to become an enabling organisation for the promotion and delivery of a sustainable built environment for the people of Hong Kong. To achieve this, there is a need to take a holistic view of the full life cycle of developments from planning, construction, commissioning, operation, refurbishment, renewal to decomissioning of buildings".
Last year, the BEAM standards were upgraded to BEAM Plus after the comprehensive review of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a strong panel of experts from various companies, academic institutions, utility companies and government departments. After 31st March 2010, all new BEAM projects applied for certification will be assessed under the BEAM Plus standards.
Core initatives Harbour Business Forum (HBF) and Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF) are celebrating its 5th anniversary and 2nd anniversary respectively. HBF has become primarily a research driven think tank, creating a pluralistic and holistic approach to help turn Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and waterfronts into vibrant, accessible and sustainable, world-class assets. CCBF has been active in bringing together Hong Kong’s most astute business leaders to tackle climate change via policy contribution, research and sharing best practices with the broader business community.
For 18 years, we are privileged and proud to have organised the Hong Kong Awards for Industries in Environmental Performance, in honouring green champions in addition to the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence and HSBC Living Business Awards. Corporate Sustainability For Schools (CS4 Schools) was initiated with the enthusiastic support from leading businesses to nurture future leaders.
In wrapping up 2009, Professor John Chai, Managing Director of Fook Tin Group Holdings, was appointed as the new Chairman of BEC, succeeding Mr Stephen Fong following his retirement. Professor Chai joined BEC as Board Director since February 2004. He is a very visionary and forward looking green entrepreneur and has won numerous environmental awards for Fook Tin including twice the Grand Award in Environmental Performance of the Hong Kong Awards for Industries. He will continue to work with fellow Board Directors and the professional team at BEC to promote the business case for sustainable development to the broader business community, while sharpen BEC’s strategic focus and core areas.
2010 looks set to be another exciting year. We look forward to working with you to bring new perspectives and partnership. Thank you again for your support. Finally on behalf of the team at BEC I wish you, your organization and family a fantastic Year of the Tiger.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Andrew Thomson
Chief Executive Officer
Business Environment Council