BEC Monthly Features
BEC AGM 2016 and Election of Board of Directors for 2016-18
At the BEC Annual General Meeting held on 15 April 2016, 20 members of BEC Board of Directors were elected for a two-year term beginning on the same day. Mr Richard Lancaster of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited was elected as the Chairman. Please read here for the list of Board of Directors for the new term.
BEC Publishes First Sustainability Report
BEC has released its first sustainability report for the financial year from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015. The report details BEC’s vision and mission, strategic direction, activities and accomplishments, as well as its social, environmental and governance performance.
The report has followed and applied the Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) G4 framework in accordance with the Core option and with the GRI principles of accuracy, balance, comparability, completeness, materiality, reliability and timeless. The Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting Guide of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the GRI NGO Sector Supplement have also been used as references. BEC is one of the few non-profit organisations in Hong Kong committed to such levels of disclosure which it aims to inspire other organisations of a similar size and nature to do the same.
The report is available on BEC website (/sites/default/files/enewsletter/BEC_Sustainability_Report_2014-15.pdf).
It is also available on the sustainability database on GRI website at: http://database.globalreporting.org/reports/view/36597.
BEC’s Submission on the proposed Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
On 8 April 2016, BEC expressed its views to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on the proposed Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. BEC supports the overall mission and vision and the four action areas, namely Conservation, Mainstreaming, Knowledge and Community Involvement, which BEC recognises seek to improve on the achievements of Hong Kong to date in protecting its natural environment. The submission is available on BEC website (http://bec.org.hk/files/images/Resource_Centre/Submission/BEC_Submission_on_BSAP.PDF).
BEC Upcoming Events
13 May 2016: BEC Industry Visit to Baguio Waste Management and Destruction Centre
Through the visit to Baguio Waste Management and Destruction Centre, participants will know more about how the waste is separated efficiently by a well-designed sorting and packing line. Moreover, participants will learn about confidential wastes handling procedure, which is well monitored by advanced technologies that make sure the shredded materials can be recycled as required by the European Security Standard.
For registration and enquiry, please contact Ms Vicky Man (T. 2784 3960 | E. vicky@bec.org.hk).
19 May 2016: BEC EnviroSeries Conference – A Resilient and Low Carbon Hong Kong – Transforming Awareness into Actions
The upcoming BEC EnviroSeries Conference will focus on understanding Hong Kong’s carbon footprint and looking at actions in relation to specific sectors, including energy generation as well as the built environment – buildings and infrastructure. The Conference will bring together industry experts, policy makers, business leaders and academics to discuss strategies and solutions for enabling Hong Kong economy to have a high level of energy security, to be competitive, and to support a global shift to net zero emissions.
Featured speakers include Under Secretary for the Environment Ms Christine Loh, Director of the Hong Kong Observatory Mr Chi-ming Shun and Director of Drainage Services Ir Edwin Tong, as well as BEC Board Directors and industry leaders.
For details and registration, please visit BEC website (http://bec.org.hk/events-current/bec-enviroseries-conference-2016). Please contact Ms Phoebe Hung (T. 2784 3968 | E. phoebe@bec.org.hk) if you would like to sponsor and support the Conference.
BEC News
BEC Supports Environment Bureau’s Climate Change Initiatives
On the Earth Day, 22 April 2016, the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government launched the “ClimateReady@HK” logo to kick-start its initiatives for enhancing the public awareness on climate change and carbon reduction action.
On the other hand, on 23 April 2016, BEC joined with more than 60 stakeholders from the built environment and the energy sector, as well as the respective Government departments to participate in an engagement session entitled “Post-COP21 Green Building Imaging” and shared ideas on energy saving.
BEC Supports GRI’s “Linking G4 and the HKEX ESG Reporting Guide”
BEC rendered its support to the publication of the document entitled “Linking G4 and the HKEX ESG Reporting Guide” issued by Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”). The linkage document is sponsored by BEC Members CLP and NWS Holdings.
The document aims to help companies understand how they can best use GRI’s G4 Guidelines and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited’s (HKEX’s) ESG Reporting Guide to report on their sustainability performance without duplicating their efforts. It also provides a clear overview of the commonalities between the two frameworks. Companies that already report using the G4 Guidelines will be well placed to meet the requirements of the ESG Reporting Guide, given the many commonalities between the two. Those who report according to the ESG Reporting Guide can use this information as input for their future G4-based reports.
The full document is available at: https://www.globalreporting.org/resourcelibrary/GRI-HKEXLinkageDocument.pdf.
BEC Awarded Wastewi$e Certificate - Excellence Level
In recognition of BEC’s efforts in waste reduction, BEC has been awarded the Wastewi$e Certificate - Excellence Level of the Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (“HKGOC”). The Wastewi$e Certificate is established to encourage Hong Kong businesses and organisations in adopting measures to reduce the amount of waste generated within their establishments or generated through the services and products they provide, and recognise the waste reduction efforts of those companies.
BEC Pledges to Switch Off External Lighting Installations
On 1 April, BEC participated in the signing ceremony of the Environment Bureau’s Charter on External Lighting (the “Charter”) and signed up the Charter together with other 4,000 properties and shops to show collaborative effort in minimising light nuisance and energy wastage problems caused by external lighting.
Under the Charter, BEC pledged to switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during the preset times.
BEC Participates in the Business-School Partnership Programme
BEC joined the Business-School Partnership Programme organised by Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and hosted a visit at BEC Headquarters for local secondary school students on 14 April 2016. Through a presentation session and a guided tour, students learned about the energy saving facilities installed in the award-winning BEC building.
The Business-School Partnership Programme was established to provide a platform for students, teachers and businesses to exchange and communicate with each other, while preparing students to gain more understanding of the commercial world.
BEC Members – Playing their Part in Reducing Emissions
The Paris Agreement on climate change was formally signed by countries across the world on 22 April. It reflects the global consensus and commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit temperature rise to less than 2°C, and if possible under 1.5°C.
The Paris Pledge for Action enables non-state entities to formally commit to help implement the Agreement. BEC’s Board signed the Pledge in January 2016. As a signatory, BEC will work to encourage members and Hong Kong business community to help meet these commitments, through various projects, events and our educational programme. In particular, BEC’s Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group will explore the scope for Hong Kong companies to make voluntary commitments to reduce their emissions. The Enviroseries Event on 19 May will offer a platform for dialogue as to the actions business can make and how the Government can support those commitments. If you are interested in the former, please contact maggielam@bec.org.hk, and if the latter, please look at our website.
BEC Members may wish to join the Paris Pledge or alternatively sign up to the We Mean Business Coalition or Commit to Action. Whilst the Pledge does not specify actions, the We Mean Business Coalition allows companies to commit to one or more of a set of specific climate initiatives. For information on the Pledge, please refer to: http://www.parispledgeforaction.org/read. Details on the We Mean Business Coalition can be found here: http://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/take-action.
BEC Past Events
31 March 2016: BEC Leadership Networking Series
In the March series, Ms Janice Lao, Senior Manager of Sustainability at MTR Corporation Limited, talked about how to assess MTR’s major climate change risks. She also shared actions taken by MTR for mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Ms Emma Harvey, Group Sustainability and CSR Manager at Gammon Construction Limited, shared climate resilience solutions within the construction sector and the impacts of extreme weather on the workforce. She also introduced the company’s approaches which aim to reduce these risks.
28 April 2016: BEC Leadership Networking Series
Mr Paul Davison, Managing Director of Proteus Environmental Communications (Hong Kong) Limited, talked about what businesses can do to increase general public’s awareness of environmental issues and initiatives to improve sustainability, and how to engage with host communities affected by environmentally focused infrastructure developments.
Mr Julian Cope, Managing Director of Bid Academy, explained the concept of a bid lifecycle outlining where and when opportunities occur for bidders to increase their likelihood of success.
BEC Partnership Programmes
2016 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence is Now Open for Application
As one of the organisers of the 2016 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence ("HKAEE"), BEC is now inviting local companies and organisations to join this important annual event of the environmental sector in Hong Kong. Sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund and launched by Environmental Campaign Committee, the HKAEE encourages businesses and organisations to adopt green management, and presents them with an opportunity to benchmark and recognise their commitments towards environmental protection.
To facilitate application, three sessions of information dissemination and experience sharing seminars with different topics will be organised in May 2016. Experienced professionals and industry practitioners will share their expertise and insights on how to maximise efficiency by adopting various environmental measures to protect the environment and reduce costs in the long-run. Eligibility, assessment procedures and application procedures of the 2016 HKAEE will also be introduced during the seminars.
The application deadline of the HKAEE will be 17 June 2016. For more details, please visit http://www.hkaee.gov.hk or contact us (T. 2784 3964 | E. hkaee@bec.org.hk).
16 – 17 April 2016: “BEC Biodiversity Ambassador Training Programme: Marine Biodiversity Conservation” Roving Exhibition cum BEC Biodiversity Ambassadors’ Sharing Session
Following the Marine Biodiversity Conservation Day in January, BEC held the first roving exhibition cum BEC Biodiversity Ambassadors’ sharing session on 16 and 17 April 2016 in Tin Shui Wai.
During the exhibition and sharing session, BEC Biodiversity Ambassadors introduced the visitors to the importance of conserving our ocean and Hong Kong’s rich marine biodiversity, and further discussed with the public the progress of conservation in Hong Kong as well as actions need to be taken for conservation.
The roving exhibition cum sharing session is one of the major activities under “BEC Biodiversity Ambassador Training Programme: Marine Biodiversity Conservation”, which is funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund and the Environmental Campaign Committee, and supported by the Ocean Park Conservation Fund Hong Kong.
Please stay tuned for more details about the upcoming 2 roving exhibitions to be held in June. For further information, please contact Mr Winson Sze (T. 2784 3969 | E. biodiversity@bec.org.hk) or visit the Programme’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/BECBioAmb).
Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material/event do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Environment and Conservation Fund and Environmental Campaign Committee.
Services for BEC Members and Companies
Venue Hire at BEC Headquarters
To facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices, venues and facilities at BEC Headquarters are available for members and companies for organising events relating to environmental protection and sustainability. To know more about the rates and other details, please refer to the rate card or contact BEC Events and Communications Team (T. 2784 3942 | E. venue@bec.org.hk).
Green Technology Corner – Showcase at BEC Headquarters
The Green Technology Corner at BEC Headquarters offers opportunities for members to showcase their green technologies and products to business leaders and sustainability professionals. Please contact Ms Bonnie Ho (T. 2787 3951 | E. bonnie@bec.org.hk) to secure the showcasing opportunity.
BEC IEE Training Courses
BEC Institute for Environmental Education ("BEC IEE") will organise various environmental training courses during May to June 2016 as follows:
Managing Climate Change Risk – Adapting and Ensuring Resilience HK Climate Resilience Roadmap for Business (6 May 2016) – The 3-hour course provides up-to-date and practical knowledge to manage climate risks locally and globally. It also gives an introduction to “Hong Kong Climate Resilience Roadmap for Business”, which is developed by BEC with the aims to draw out actions that the businesses need to take to ensure resilience in the face of climate change risks. During the course, tutor provides hands-on and step-by-step instructions to apply BEC’s Climate Risk Tool in making business decisions on climate risks and opportunities, as well as formulating appropriate adaption actions.
Indoor Air Quality (“IAQ”) Management & Improvement (4th Intake) (16 June 2016) – The course covers an overview of IAQ, different chemical and biological components that affect IAQ, as well as effective ways to manage and improve IAQ. In the interest of promoting awareness of IAQ, BEC members who enroll before 2 June 2016 can enroll with one more application without additional charges.
Visit BEC website now for outlines and schedules of BEC IEE courses. For registration and enquiry, please contact Dr Veronica Chan (T. 2784 3937 | E. beciee@bec.org.hk).
BEC Members Corner
Scania Driver Competition Returns
As one of the largest driver competitions in the world, the Scania Driver Competition has provided challenges for over 300,000 drivers from more than 50 countries since 2003.
The Scania Driver Competition 2016 has been officially launched in Hong Kong. The theme for this year is “FACE THE CHALLENGE”. All the drivers are encouraged to accept the challenge from their peers, and to compete to be crowned as the best driver in terms of road safety and fuel economy.
Scania expects around 1,000 drivers to join the Competition, and the one that is chosen as the best among them will receive HK$100,000 as the winning prize. Scania is looking forward to welcoming you to be a part of the Competition and to prove how good you are. The Competition is free of charge and open for drivers holding a Hong Kong driving licence for the vehicle either Class 18, 19 or 20.
More details can be found on http://www.facebook.com/ScaniaHongKong. For enquiries, please call 2671 7001 or email to hk_sdc@scania.com.
Sun Hung Kai Properties Publishes Fifth Sustainability Report
Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (“SHKP”) has published its fifth stand-alone sustainability report describing its initiatives and performance for the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. The report also covers SHKP’s progress related to the environment, society and governance. This year’s report goes further to enhance transparency for stakeholders by including SHKP’s telecommunications and information technology businesses. The report again follows the Core option of the Global Reporting Initiative G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and references the ESG Reporting Guide issued by the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2015 and the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact.
View the 2014 / 15 SHKP sustainability report at: http://www.shkp.com/Html/CSR/SR/SD201415EN/index.html.
"BEC Members Corner" is dedicated to BEC members for the purpose of introducing their recent achievements, success stories, innovative ideas or solutions on environmental sustainability. Members are invited to provide us with an English write-up with about 150 words, which BEC reserves the rights of editing and publishing. The submission deadline for the next E-newsletter is 23 May 2016 (Monday).
Please contact Ms Joey Hui (T. 2784 3958 | E. joey@bec.org.hk) if you are interested in contributing an article.
BEC Member Update
Please join us in welcoming the following new member:
Corporate Member
AIA Group Limited
BEC Supporting Events
| Date | Event | Organiser |
| 1 December 2015 – 28 February 2017 | Smart City Campaign | Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation |
| 4 – 25 May 2016 | 2016 香港環境卓越大獎環保經驗分享會 (Chinese version only) | Environmental Campaign Committee, Environmental Protection Department, Advisory Council on the Environment, Business Environment Council, The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Federation of Hong Kong Industries, The Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong Productivity Council |
| 5 May 2016 |
Integrate 2016 Facility Management Conference |
International Facility Management Association Hong Kong Chapter |
| 5 – 7 May 2016 |
IE Expo 2016 Hong Kong Pavilion (Chinese version only) |
Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong SAR Government |
| 7 and 14 May 2016 |
IFMA's Guided Tour (May 2016) |
The Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA |
| 15 – 21 May 2016 |
CIWEM HK Study Mission 2016 |
Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management Hong Kong |
| 20 May 2016 |
HKICS Annual Corporate and Regulatory Update (ACRU) 2016 |
The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries |
| 25 – 27 May 2016 |
HVAC Design: Level I — Essentials |
ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter |
| 28 May – 27 November 2016 |
2016 15th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition - Hong Kong Exhibition |
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, Hong Kong Arts Development Council |
| 26 – 29 October 2016 | Eco Expo Asia 2016 | Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong SAR Government |
| November 2016 |
The Green Building Award 2016 |
Hong Kong Green Building Council, Professional Green Building Council |
| 2015 – 2016 |
Environmental Education Creative Competition 2015 |
Graphic Arts Association of Hong Kong |
| 2014 – onward | Water Supplies Department, Hong Kong SAR Government | |
| 2014 – onward |
HSBC Water Programme for Industrial Water Management |
Hong Kong Productivity Council |