BEC Events
28 January 2014: BEC Policy Dialogue Series: 2014 Policy Address with the Secretary for the Environment
About 100 business leaders, academics, and sustainability professionals joined BEC Policy Dialogue Series on 2014 Policy Address. After elaborating on the environmental components of the 2014 Policy Address, Mr K S Wong, Secretary for the Environment of HKSAR, joined a panel discussion with BEC Chairman, Board representatives and BEC Advisory Group Chairs in discussing the waste management, green building, energy, climate change and environmental, social and governance reporting.
Mr Wong also answered questions from the floor to allow better understanding of the Policy Address as well as the plans and targets of the Government in handling the various environmental issues.
23 January 2014: BEC Leadership Networking Series
BEC members, partners and colleagues were inspired by the presentations in January’s BEC Leadership Networking Series.
Ms Chloe Hui, General Manager of Kimberly-Clark Professional, introduced their sustainability measures and their efforts in helping their clients identify and rectify the hygienic problems in their workplace in a sustainable way, so as improving the work environment of the employees. She also shared some interesting findings based on germ perception test and “germ personality” analysis.
Mr Geoffrey Chan and Ms Mei Ling Lew, Partners of Mayer Brown JSM, gave a concise introduction to the Waste Disposal Ordinance and its implications to the business sector. It provides useful legal understanding of the Ordinance for the audience.
23 January 2014: Warsaw? Where next for the UN Climate Caravan?
Co-organised by BEC Climate Change Business Forum Advisory Group and Civic Exchange, this seminar attracted approximately 80 participants to discuss the next steps following the UN Climate Conference at Warsaw in 2013, actions on climate change outside the UN process, and what Hong Kong should do about climate change.
BEC Member Event
24 January 2014: Industry Visit to Ricoh Hong Kong's Environmental Technical Centre and LIVE Office
During the visit to the Environmental Technical Centre of Ricoh Hong Kong, participants had a chance to understand the CSR model and the environmental practices on toner refilling, machine reconditioning and hard-disk handling of the company from its Senior Marketing Communications Specialist Miss Eva Kwok. She also introduced the way that Ricoh refurbished old printing machines into green machines. In a live demonstration at the LIVE Office in Kowloon Bay, participants experienced some paperless meeting solutions, learnt about secured print management solutions and visited the central facility management centre.
BEC News
BEC IEE Upcoming Programmes Highlights
In order to help the business sector keep abreast of the environmental legislation in Hong Kong, BEC Institute of Environmental Education (IEE) will organise a 12-hour course “Regulatory Compliance for Environmental Legislation of Hong Kong” on 26 February and 5 March 2014. This course will provide the participants with up-to-date information on 5 major ordinances covering air pollution control, noise pollution control, water pollution control, waste disposal and environmental impact assessment. The course is recognised as CPD training course for members of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.
In light of the rising public attention to proper tree management in urban and construction areas, BEC IEE will organise a workshop “Urban Tree Management” on 8, 15 and 22 March 2014. Arboriculture experts will introduce tree work safety, risk assessment and management.
Meanwhile, BEC IEE also offers various environmental education programmes for business managers and decision makers in the coming months. Please visit BEC website to view more details and schedules of these programmes. For registration and enquiry, please contact Dr Veronica Chan at 2784 3937 or beciee@bec.org.hk.
BEC Partnership Programmes
Moving the Construction Sector towards Sustainable Development
To explain BEC’s findings and recommendations on corporate sustainability initiatives for SMEs in the construction sector, two briefing workshops were held for members of the Construction Industry Council Training Academy and the Hong Kong Construction Association on 16 and 22 January 2014 respectively. In addition to the construction industry, BEC will also organise a series of workshops for the students studying construction related subjects in Vocational Training Council and School of Professional and Continuing Education of The University of Hong Kong in February to disseminate the idea and concept of corporate sustainability.
EPD Glass Bottle Recycling Programme for Housing Estates
To better promote glass bottle recycling in Hong Kong, the Environmental Protection Department has recently commissioned BEC to organise and manage the glass bottle recycling programmes in Sai Kung, Tuen Mun and North District from January 2014 to June 2015.
The programmes are implemented under Government’s plan announced in November 2013 to introduce a new mandatory producer responsibility scheme to enhance the management of waste glass bottles in Hong Kong. To encourage and facilitate the public to participate in glass bottle recycling and pave way for the future mandatory scheme, the Government proactively expands the glass collection network.
All housing estates and residential buildings in these 3 districts with proper management office are welcomed to participate in this Programme. Please contact Mr Jonathan Li at em_admin@bec.org.hk or 2784 3921 to learn more about the Programme.
Upcycling the Tai Po Community Project
Funded by HKSAR Sustainable Development Fund and partnered with the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres, BEC will establish a cross-sectoral platform to organise a community-outreach programme entitled “Upcycling the Tai Po Community Project” from December 2013 to May 2015. The Programme aims to train women in Tai Po District how to make pet clothes with used garments via a series of workshops. In return, these trained women will be the trainers of corporate employees in the production of pet clothes.
Under this community project, BEC will not only arrange designers to teach the women participants in Tai Po District in making upcycling products and organise upcycling workshops for corporate employees, but also publish a know-how handbook for the making of pet clothes and organise roving exhibitions to showcase the upcycling masterpieces in shopping arcades.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition public voting begins on 28 February
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, a citywide competition in which BEC is an environmental advisor, has just announced the top 60 entries. These shortlisted green and innovative ideas will be turned into two-minute videos by the participants. The videos will be posted on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow website for public voting from 28 February until 17 March. You can vote for your favourite five from each of the primary, secondary and tertiary categories here. More information about the latest activities of the campaign can be found here.
BEC Upcoming Event
27 February 2014: BEC Leadership Networking Series
The upcoming BEC Leadership Networking Series will be hosted at the Banqueting House in Tsim Sha Tsui on 27 February 2014 in the form of spring dinner with leadership sharing session.
Mr Andrew Lai, JP, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection of the Environmental Protection Department, will be the keynote speaker to talk about the Producer Responsibility Schemes, which is one of the key actions to drive behavioural change to reduce waste.
For details about the event and registration, please contact Ms Joey Hui (T 2784 3958 E joey@bec.org.hk).
BEC Upcoming Member Event
24 February 2014: Industry Visit to Research Centres of City University of Hong Kong
This February, BEC will organise a visit to the various research centres of the Department of Electronic Engineering of the City University of Hong Kong to learn about its research outputs and latest technologies. The visit will cover CityU Innovation Centre, CityU Apps Lab, CityU-KEF Acoustics Centre and Centre for Smart Energy Conversion and Utilization Research.
To join the visit, please return the completed registration form to amy@bec.org.hk. For enquiry, please contact Ms Amy Ma at 2784 3960.
BEC Members Corner
Modern Terminals Releases its First Corporate Social Responsibility Report
Established in 1969, BEC Council Member Modern Terminals Limited (MTL) has continuously strived to deliver service excellence ever since it opened Hong Kong's first purpose-built container terminal in September 1972. The group’s dedication to protecting the environment is reflected from its application of “green terminal” guidelines whenever designing, building and equipping their new and existing terminals. The environmental management system of all MTL’s business units in Hong Kong and Mainland China have obtained ISO14001 certifications.
MTL is a pioneer among the regional terminal operators to publish a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The Report, covering the period from January 2011 to June 2013, provides a clear and balanced view of MTL’s significant economic, environmental and social performance. Apart from enhancing the transparency, MTL regards CSR reporting as a valuable self-assessment tool reviewing the company’s current sustainability performance and identify areas for future improvement.
Before publication, the Report was independently assessed by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA). It also received a GRI statement confirming its fulfillment of Application Level B+ requirements. The full text of the MTL CSR Report is available online in English and Chinese at http://www.modernterminals.com/eng/mtDelivers/sustainability.html.
HKT Named Champion in Power Smart Energy Saving Contest 2013
BEC Council Member PCCW Limited’s subsidiary HKT recently won the Champion in the Biggest Units Saver Award (Company Category) of the Power Smart Energy Saving Contest 2013 organised by Friends of the Earth. Mr Ricky Kwong, SVP of Network Operations, Engineering, received the award on behalf of HKT on 4 January 2014.
As a leading corporate citizen, HKT always seeks to promote environment-friendly measures in its operation. During the contest period from June to August 2013, 20 exchange buildings of HKT achieved a reduction in electricity consumption of more than 4.5 million units compared to the same period in 2012 as a result of system enhancements. In particular, the modernisation of their voice network and cooling equipment significantly enhanced energy efficiency of those buildings.
To strive for a better world, HKT will continue to advance its commitment to corporate sustainability and responsibility.
MEGAMAN® Launches Co-branded LED Light Bulb with WWF-Hong Kong to Promote Energy Conservation
BEC Corporate Member Neonlite Electronic recently launched a co-branded MEGAMAN® 9.5W LED light bulb with WWF-Hong Kong. With more even and broader light distribution at 300° illumination (as against conventional 120° illumination), longer lamp life, a rust-free plastic lamp base, high energy efficiency and eco-packing, the 9.5W LED light bulb helps promote energy conservation to combat climate change. A portion of the proceeds from the bulb sale will be allocated for the conservation and education works of WWF-Hong Kong. The community can contribute to the programme and energy conservation by applying the light bulb which is available at Circle K convenience stores, WWF Panda Shop and MEGAMAN® Concept Stores. As a corporate citizen, MEGAMAN® has pledged to support and help pass the conservation message through its engagement in local and overseas community’s activities.
"BEC Members Corner" is dedicated to BEC members to introduce their recent achievements, success stories, innovative ideas or solutions on environmental sustainability. Members could provide us an English write-up with a maximum of 200 words, which BEC will reserve the rights of editing and publishing. The submission deadline for the upcoming E-newsletter is 21 February 2014 (Friday).
To submit an article or enquire about this section, please contact Ms Joey Hui (joey@bec.org.hk).
BEC Members Update
Please join BEC in welcoming the following members:
Council Member
Nissan Global Company Limited (upgrade)
Corporate Member
Asia Plantation Capital Pte. Ltd.
Hsin Chong Construction Group Ltd.
General Member
Asia Clean Capital Limited
BOIS Technology Limited
Dust Free Manufacturing Limited
Nicedrape Solar Protection System Co., Ltd
Associate Member
City University of Hong Kong
Evans & Peck (Hong Kong) Company Limited
Harbour City Estates Limited - Pacific Club Kowloon
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Jenston Works Company Limited
NRDC Limited
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
TOGO Pacific Limited
(Listed in alphabetical order of the companies’ name)
HBF Update
Please click on the link below to learn about the latest news and activities of BEC’s initiative Harbour Business Forum (HBF).
BEC Supporting Events
| 13 Feb 2014 | Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan – Business Focus Group Discussion Forum: How is it relevant to business sector and what can be done to support it? |
| 25 Feb 2014 | Seminar on ISO 50001 Energy Management System (EnMS) and Certification |
| 28 Feb 2014 | Cleantech Marketplace Forum |
| 26 - 28 Mar 2014 | Hong Kong Environment Mission to GLOBE 2014 |
| Mar - Aug 2014 | Hang Seng Pan PRD Environmental Awards 2013/14 |