Architectural Services Department
Focusing on Greener Buildings
Sustainability Report 2009

We operate under a structured governance framework in accordance with government policy and guidelines as well as our Integrated Management System (IMS). This has been set up to track our triple bottom line performance on economic, social and environmental aspects to ensure balanced and sustainable operations.

  • Message From The Director
  • Our Approach
  • 2008 Highlights
  • Our Works
  • 2008 Projects
  • Industry Partners
  • Employees
  • Community
  • Moving Forward
  • Data Summary
Our Approach
Our Approach

Strategy and Management

Being a government department, it is important for us to strictly follow the policies of the HKSAR Government and the initiatives of bureaux and departments in achieving sustainable development within our society. Our vision, mission and value have been a firm commitment to the Integrated Management System (IMS) principles that help us address emerging sustainability challenges in a responsible way.

We operate under a structured governance framework to track our triple bottom line performance, economic, social and environmental, to ensure balanced and sustainable operations. Our IMS, principally developed under the international standards (ISO 9001, ISO14001 and OSHAS 18001), is managed by the Integrated Management Committee under the direction of the Senior Staff Forum and Policy Administration Committee. One of the objectives is to oversee the long-term implementation of IMS and assure that the sustainability impacts on our stakeholders and the environment are being managed effectively.

Following the policy and guidelines set by Civil Service Bureau and Development Bureau, we effectively manage social matters, particularly related to labour and human rights, with human resources management and ethical supply chain management.

Governance Structure
The Senior Staff Forum is chaired by our Director and overviews the management and operation of ArchSD. From left to right: Mrs. P. Tam, AD(A); Mr. C.P. Chow, PD2; Mr. K.S. Shum, AD(QS); Mr. S.K. Ho, AD(BS); Mr. S.W. Fong, AD(PS); Mrs. M. Lau, DArchS; Mr. W.W. Li, AD(SE); Mr. K.K. Leung DDArchS; Mr. W. Lee, PD3; Mr. H. Choi, PD1.
The Senior Staff Forum is chaired by our Director and overviews the management and operation of ArchSD. From left to right: Mrs. P. Tam, AD(A); Mr. C.P. Chow, PD2; Mr. K.S. Shum, AD(QS); Mr. S.K. Ho, AD(BS); Mr. S.W. Fong, AD(PS); Mrs. M. Lau, DArchS; Mr. W.W. Li, AD(SE); Mr. K.K. Leung DDArchS; Mr. W. Lee, PD3; Mr. H. Choi, PD1.

With a view to centralising and collaborating effectively the resources on handling green building issues and to address the increasing concern from bureaux and the public, we have set up a new Green Building Committee, to handle all green building issues.

Vision, Mission and Value

Our Vision

To maintain our position as the leading practice for procuring and maintaining community facilities

Our Mission

To provide services in a professional manner

Our Core Values

  • Cost and time efficient project delivery
  • High professional quality standards
  • Responsible practices and sound environmental, health and safety performance

Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety Policy

To plan, design, procure, maintain property and advise professionally

Architectural Services Department, when offering our Clients a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary professional and technical services for public buildings and facilities, is committed to:-

  • Fulfil the agreed requirements of our Clients to the highest professional standards.
  • Deliver our services in an environmentally responsible manner by implementing conservation of energy, preventing pollution and reducing the consumption of natural resources.
  • Manage our health and safety risks to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our staff, our contractors and other people who may be affected by our work.
  • Comply with all relevant legislations and other requirements, and wherever practicable, to achieve standards beyond those that are legally required.
  • Provide adequate resources and training to all staff and provide appropriate training to persons working for or on behalf of ArchSD, to continually improve our quality, environmental, health and safety performance and effectiveness.
  • Promote ArchSD's principles of quality, environmental sustainability, health and safety to our partners in work, the construction industry and the general public.

Risk Management

Managing risks and pursuing opportunities are an integral part of our operations. We handle economic, social and environmental issues with a systematic defined mechanism adopted in our IMS by carrying out the "Plan, Do, Check, Act" cycle. We also carefully consider any potential impact that we may make on the economy, society and the environment during the decision making process.

We have structured risk management processes based on former Environment, Transport and Works Bureau Technical Circular (Works) No. 22/93 on "Estimating Using Risk Analysis" and No. 6/2005 on "Implementation of Systematic Risk Management in Public Works Projects". The overall process is under the supervision of the Development Bureau.

In order to prevent incidence of corruption, we have developed stringent requirements on integrity management in our internal guidelines. We are subject to monitoring and independent analysis on our integrity performance by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, ICAC, and, in 2008, two assignment studies were conducted to identify areas of improvement for the department. We will also report to the ICAC any attempt of bribery to a staff member.

Objectives and Targets

In 2008 we achieved 90% in all our environmental, social and economic objectives and targets. We also set new targets for enhancing energy conservation and strengthening our staff's technical knowledge on advance technology.

Environmental Objectives

Long Term Objectives Targets for 2008 Achievement
Reduce water consumption To install water-saving devices for 90% of sanitary appliances in new buildings Achieved
92% of sanitary appliances
Reduce energy consumption To achieve Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) standard of less than 23 W/m2 for 100% of all new projects with air conditioning installations; and not more than 18W/m2 for 65% of projects Achieved
100% for all new projects achieved with OTTV less than 23W/m2; and 75% for projects achieved with less than 18W/m2
Improve energy efficiency of building services installation To use water-cooled heat rejection system in central air-conditioning system for at least 85% of new projects Achieved
100% of new projects
To adopt Building Energy Management System for all new joint user buildings Achieved
100% of new joint user building projects
To apply services-on-demand control for escalator / travellator for 100% of new projects Achieved
100% of new projects
To use T5 fluorescent light or LED lamp for passenger lift car illumination for 100% of new projects Achieved
100% of new projects
In not less than 80% of new projects where lighting effect of spotlight and display is required to be created by miniature tungsten halogen lamp, energy efficient lighting such as LED lamp should be employed for substitution of these lamps. New target for 2009
Improve visual and air quality of our city To landscape usable roof area /or terrace for 100% of new projects Achieved
100% of new projects
To incorporate vertical greening in 46% of new projects Achieved
50% of new projects
To enhance staff's knowledge of vertical greening Study on the types, techniques and plant species was being carried out. Experience sharing sessions were held with colleagues in July and Sept 2008

Social Objectives

Long Term Objectives Targets for 2008 Achievement
Minimising accident rate for ArchSD staff Accident rate for ArchSD staff should be not more than 2 occupational injuries per 1,000 staff per year Achieved
0 occupational injuries per 1,000 staff per year
Minimising accident rate in ArchSD contracts Accident rate in ArchSD contracts should be less than 0.75 reportable accident per 100,000 man-hours worked Achieved
0.43 reportable accident per 100,000 man-hours worked
Maintaining safety and health awareness of professional, technical and site supervisory staff, consultants and contractors with in-house briefing To organise at least four in-house workshops on safety and health Achieved
Four in-house workshops / seminars were organised with a total of 430 attendants
Encourage practice of environmental protection measures and communicate our environmental policy to other Government departments / organizations To record and monitor general technical advice on environmental protection measures Achieved
1,798 environmental advices were given to various Government departments / organisations
Promote environmental awareness among consultants, contractors & the public To promote the concept of environmental protection to the public through knowledge sharing in ArchSD website Achieved
Sustainability Report 2008

Heritage Impact Assessment on Yau Ma Tei Theatre and Red Brick Building
Green Contractor Award 2007
Provide continuous training to staff on matters related to environmental issues To organise staff participation in courses / seminars / visits related to environmental issues Achieved
17 external events were attended by staff
More information can be found in Industry Partners
Strengthen health and safety knowledge for project staff with external training At least 6 external safety training courses on latest safety technology, current safety legislation etc should be arranged for project staff per year. Achieved
18 external training courses were arranged with 654 attendants. Also 391 staff obtained Green Card through completing CITA's green card self learning package.

Economic Objectives

Long Term Objectives Targets for 2008 Achievement
Improve the quality of our services and project delivery To ensure timely delivery of at least 80% of Capital Projects Achieved
95.5% of projects met the target
To monitor and ensure the expenditure on Public Works Programme projects not to exceed 5% under-spending and 10% over-spending of the budgeted amount Achieved
5.7% over-spending at end of 2008/09.
To harness the resources of the private sector through outsourcing of public projects. To maintain the target percentage of outsourcing. (90% at end of 2008) Achieved
91.6% value of capital works projects was outsourced.
To achieve 100% of the completed projects with at least Satisfactory level or above on the overall performance in the Client Satisfaction Survey. Achieved
100% of completed projects.
Develop in 2009 not less than 2 no. of design tool kits / guidelines for special / innovative BS installations to strengthen staff technical knowledge on advance technology New target for 2009.
Top