emphasis on the need to leverage China’s
rapid urbanisation. “Cities in China are
similar to Hong Kong in terms of its urban
development, its density and its focus on
high-rise buildings. If we can develop good
solutions for the design and operation of
modern high-rise green buildings, we will
be the leading exemplar of worldwide urban
development. The demand and opportunity
are certainly out there.”
This brings up an inspiring perspective
from Dr Chan on the development of green
buildings. “Hong Kong’s high urban density
and its existing form mean professionals
have to be innovative in solving the city’s
unique problems. If developers and the
Government push for the highest standards,
professionals will be forced to leverage
their innovation and creativity to generate
new ideas, such as the invention of new
construction products and materials. From a
broader and more proactive perspective, the
local development of green buildings will
ultimately lead to the creation and export of
technologies and expertise”.
Dr Chan explains that his sincere hope is that
the new generation of industry professionals
will share his ambition for global success.
“We really can go international,” he says,
with enthusiasm. He continues to point out
that we are already a relatively sustainable
city and that we possess many world-class
elements of a sustainable built environment,
A Foundation Well-laid
I
n any conversation with Dr Chan, it
quickly becomes apparent that his
enthusiasm for green development
is both a professional and a personal
passion. “Around a decade ago,”
he explains, “our company identified
the challenges the world was facing as
our drivers for development such as
urbanisation, climate change and fuel
shortages. I believe we are duty bound to
help tackle these problems. We also play
an important role in areas like building and
transportation as industry professionals.”
In 2008, Mrs Carrie Lam, the then Secretary
for Development, united industry parties
by initiating the setting up an overarching
body for sustainable building development
in Hong Kong. Dr Chan was involved in
the co-ordination works, and was then
entrusted with the responsibility of being
the Founding Chairman of the HKGBC in
2009. “Mrs Lam is the key person behind the
birth of the HKGBC,” remarks Dr Chan, taking
no credit for its success. “The support from
the Construction Industry Council is equally
important as it is the single organisation
l i n k i n g u p a l l s t a k e h o l d e r s i n t h e
construction industry, and it takes the lead in
terms of funding. Of course, it naturally took
time to unite our visions because we were all
used to focusing on our own areas.” Still, by
sharing a clear goal of building a sustainable
community, all the founding members have
generally been able to work together and
create a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s
sustainable built environment.
A New Era of Unprecedented
Opportunities
Dr Chan believes that Hong Kong is well-
poised to be an international leader in
green building and urban development. For
instance, Hong Kong’s locally developed
BEAM Plus assessment tool takes into
account Hong Kong’s unique conditions
such as its high development density and
naturally hot, humid weather. This is not
only helpful for green developments in
Hong Kong, but also creates the potential
to set a new benchmark of excellence for
the entire region. By utilising this market-
leading tool, developers can launch high
quality new green building projects. Indeed,
Dr Chan explains that by planning ahead,
the additional capital investment required
for a green building is minimal, yet the long-
term cost savings are so substantial that
developers can make the building a model
for others. As more and more successful
examples come to market, increasing
numbers of developers are being
inspired to follow suit. Dr Chan is
also keen to point out one of the
unique features of Hong Kong’s
property industry. “The local
private sector only consists of a
handful of key players. If these
players are all on the same page, progress
can actually be achieved easily.”
From a policy perspective, Dr Chan believes
that our Government has shown real
leadership over the years. For example, the
requirement of all new buildings wishing to
receive gross floor area (GFA) concessions
for green features to undergo BEAM Plus
assessment is a major game-changer. Since
its introduction in April 2011, the number of
buildings registered for assessment rapidly
increased. Dr Chan regards this policy as “the
most important step” so far in pushing green
building development. “I think many people
are not aware that the vision and standards
of some of our Government initiatives, such
as the Air Ventilation Assessments (AVA), are
amongst the best in the world, matching
those of Germany and Japan. It’s worth
recognising because these initiatives are not
only positively affecting the construction of
individual buildings, but also the overall form
of our city in the long term.” At the same
time, as the Government is able to exert its
influence over some 8,000 buildings, either
directly through ownership or indirectly
through tenancy, he suggests it will remain
the driving force for green initiatives.
Currently, one of the major tasks of green
building movement is the retrofitting of
existing buildings. Dr Chan explains that this
is, in fact, a worldwide issue. Locally, very
few of our existing building stock have been
wholesale retrofitted. He reckons retrofitting
a commercial building may involve a
relatively substantial investment and the
issue of “split incentive” for owner and
tenants. The transformation of residential
buildings is more dependent on behavioural
change.
A Role Model for Neighbouring
Countries
One of Dr Chan’s personal ambitions is to
help make Hong Kong a true role model
for neighbouring countries and bring
Hong Kong the recognition it deserves.
Throughout this interview, he places strong
When people look for state-of-the-
art green building technology, they
could look to Asia, a part of the world
we play a key role in.
Director’s Interview
Director's
Interview
5
