OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (herein “HKQAA”) was appointed by The Architectural Services Department (herein “ArchSD”) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to conduct an independent verification on its Sustainability Report 2009 (herein “the Report”).

The Report described the past performance of ArchSD on economic, social and environmental aspects for the period from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008 against Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guideline Version 3.0 (G3).

The objective of this verification exercise is to provide an independent review on the materiality, completeness, accuracy and reliability of the information presented in the Report and to assess whether the Report has fulfilled the reporting framework of G3 and contained the criteria in the GRI Application Level A+.

The verification scope has covered all reporting contents presented in the Report and included to

• Evaluate the overall reasonableness and balance of reporting taking into account of the data and information, and overall selection of content to satisfy the principles of GRI and to contain the Disclosures as required at Application Level A+,
• Assess whether the information presented is accurate, reliable and clear, and can reflect the sustainability performance of ArchSD;
• Verify the reliability of data and information management mechanism with respect to its collecting, verifying, reviewing, analyzing and presenting the data in the Report;
• Identify and recommend opportunities for further improvement in reporting.

METHODOLOGY

Our verification procedures included the review of relevant documentation, on-site interviews with responsible persons with accountability for preparing the Report, selection of representative samples, verifying their data and information presented in the Report against the supporting evidence provided by ArchSD, including the database made available to our assessment team during the interviews.

The data and information were carefully verified for accuracy and cross-checked with third party information when available.

OUR OPINION

After a thorough and detailed examination of the Report, our assessment team concludes the followings:

The Report provides a structured, balanced, reliable and consistent and accurate presentation of the sustainability management performance of ArchSD in the context of economic, social and environmental aspects. In addition, the Report demonstrates a fair and systemic representation of ArchSD initiatives, targets, progress and performance on its sustainability achievements, according to the requirements and criteria of GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Guideline Version 3.0 (G3)

Further opportunities for improvement on the reporting structure and content will have been separately submitted to ArchSD for their consideration on the compilation of the Sustainability Report in next cycle. These will include such items as:

• More examples to show the achievements under Building Energy Code
• More details on the achievements of green building features
• Information about Award winning contractors’ safety working methods

To conclude, the information provided in the Report was reliable in the presentation of ArchSD commitments, initiatives, performance and achievements for the reporting period, and the Report conforms to the reporting framework of G3 and the criteria specified in the GRI Application Level A+, to the best knowledge of assessment team.

Signed for and on behalf of HKQAA

Mr. King Hong Thomas MA

Lead Auditor, Strategic Business
December 2009