10th Anniversary Booklet - The Professional Green Building Council

Prof. CHAN Chak KeungHead and Professor,Division of Environment,Hong Kong University ofScience and TechnologyHon Charles MOKChairman,The Professional CommonsMr. Keith KERRPresident, The Real EstateDevelopers Association ofHong Kong1As the chairman of The Professional Commons, I would like to sendour sincere congratulations towards the 10th anniversary of theestablishment of the Hong Kong Green Building Council.On behalf of The Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong,I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to the ProfessionalGreen Building Council on its 10th Anniversary.As a professional think tank that embraces and advocatessustainable development in Hong Kong, The Professional Commonsis delighted to see the contributions of the Hong Kong GreenBuilding Council. Throughout the past 10 years, the Council hasstrives to work out plans for a more sustainable Hong Kong,through promoting the adoption of green building standardsand the construction of sustainable buildings. The Council hasalso engaged a wide spectrum of the community, industry andgovernment to facilitate the creation of practical solutions forHong Kong’s unique environment.Over the past decade, the Council has made a significantcontribution to promoting the adoption of more ecologicallysympathic building methods and improving the quality of life ofour community.I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Council and itsmembers every success in the years ahead.Best wishes to the Hong Kong Green Building Council to pursue abetter, more sustainable environment in the many years ahead.Prof. David LUNG, SBS, RIBA, JPDean and Professor,Architecture,UNESCO Chairin Cultural HeritageResources Management,The University of Hong KongMr. Barry CHEUNG, GBS, JPChairman,Urban Renewal AuthorityMr. Michael LYNCH, CBE, AMChief Executive Officer,West Kowloon CulturalDistrict AuthorityThe Hong Kong Green Building Council is recognized for its colossaleffort and commitment on sustainability advocacy. Its missionhas enticed the support from the policymakers as well as fromthe general public, as it aims at the best practice in designingour urban environment with higher performance buildings andneighborhoods.Ten or 15 years ago, the commercial sector used to ask thequestion whether to grow or to be green, but today, everyoneknows that to grow is to be green. Although the challenges we faceahead are enormous, yet not irresolvable, if we choose to work inharmony, unity, unselfishly and be prepared to sacrifice.In synchronizing with the Green Building Council, theEnvironmental Conservation Fund Committee and theEnvironmental Campaign Committee of which I chaired since 2002,have appropriated funds to support some 44,500 sq. meters ofgreen roofs in schools and NGOs; supported over 1,300 energyconservation and improvement projects, when all completed, willhelp reduce energy consumption by about 180 million kWh perannum, reducing carbon emission by nearly 130,000 tonnes peryear. These are but a few examples how different sectors of thecommunity could work together in achieving a common objective.On this happy occasion, on behalf of my colleagues in the Faculty, Iwould like to congratulate the HKGBC for having achieved its noblegoals and to send my warm wishes for future success in the yearsto come.When the World Green Building Council was founded in 1999, itonly took Hong Kong three years to form its own chapter of GreenBuilding Council and joined the world body. Now in 2012, weare celebrating its 10th anniversary, and on this happy occasion,I wish to convey my warmest congratulations to the Council andits members.In the past ten years, you have done much to promote asustainable built environment in one of the world’s most crowdedurban centers, educating the public and industry professionals,advocating green building practices and upholding industrystandards. We at the Urban Renewal Authority see you as ournatural partners. We feel a kinship with your green philosophy andshare much of your professional concerns. With our busy agenda,we have much to learn from you, and much to work with you.I look forward to an even closer collaboration with the PGBCcollectively and your members individually.Once again, my heartiest congratulations on behalf of all of us atthe Urban Renewal Authority.Today, I think more than ever, it is essential that everybody workstogether for a future that is sustainable – not just environmentally,but economically and socially.The Professional Green Building Council has established keymeasures and forged significant developments in Hong Kongsteadily over the past ten years, which ultimately will not onlyimpact Hong Kong but the wider global community.The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority shares a corecommitment to sustainability with the Council and we lookforward to continuing our work together, building a Districtthat exemplifies a healthy environment. Sustainability has beenembedded in the planning of Hong Kong’s future arts hub. It willbe a low-density development, providing an ample twenty-threehectares of open green space and a green avenue and embracingtwo kilometres of a vibrant harbour-front promenadeThank you to all the people and organisations that make up theProfessional Green Building Council; your insight through ourformative period have been invaluable and it is with great respectthat I congratulate you on a pioneering first ten years.21