Workforce

The Group believes that a motivated and balanced workforce is crucial for building a sustainable business model and delivering long-term returns. The Group is firmly committed to diligently fostering a nurturing and all-encompassing work environment that encourages and empowers its employees to flourish, thereby enabling them to make utmost valuable contributions towards the Group’s continued prosperity and advancement.

The Group has a diverse workforce in terms of gender and age, providing a variety of ideas and levels of competencies that contribute to the Group’s success. The Group is firmly commit ted to gender equality at both managerial and operational levels. The management believes that employees are important assets of the Group, and remains committed to attracting and retaining talent with diverse backgrounds for achieving sustainable growth and maintaining a stable turnover rate.

To ensure staff clearly understand their rights and obligations, the employee handbook and other policies and guidelines are in place covering the areas of compensation and dismissal, recruitment, working hours, rest periods, equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and other fringe benefits, etc. In addition, the Group firmly believes that a fair and just working environment can significantly boost employee morale and productivity, and is therefore dedicated to providing equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and ensuring the workplace is free from discrimination. The Group ensures employees receive fair and competitive remuneration packages in accordance with their experience, qualifications, performance and market rates, and are being reviewed on a regular basis.

Occupational Health and Safety

The Group prides itself on providing a safe, effective and congenial work environment for its staff. To ensure the highest standards of health and safety, the Group adheres to all relevant regulations and implements comprehensive safety measures throughout its operations. Besides, occupational health and safety (“OHS”) measures are regularly reviewed by the Group to ensure their effectiveness. A dedicated team has also been established to deal with OHS matters, and to react promptly if there are issues, to ensure a healthy and safe work environment.

The Group proactively identifies potential occupational hazards, to reduce staff exposure to accidents. At the project sites, safety officers are assigned to supervise, monitor and manage the contractors to ensure compliance with the requirements. The workers are given safety training sessions to reinforce safety measures and practices. Regular site inspections are conducted to ensure the required safety standard are met. The contractor is also requested to submit the Site Safety Plan and the Supervision Plan for the Works in accordance with the requirements under the Technical Memorandum for Supervision Plans 2009 and shall comply with such throughout the construction period.

Development and Training

Recognising the importance of skilled and professionally trained employees, the Group offers comprehensive training to enhance the knowledge, skills and work capability of its staff, enabling them to excel in their roles. The Group encourages and provides subsidies to employees at all levels to pursue educational or training opportunities that achieve personal growth and professional development. A policy on External Training Subsidy is in place, allowing every staff member to develop and maintain job-related skills for full performance.

Staff enrols in training programs organised by professional institutions such as the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Chartered Institute of Building and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, to enhance their professionalism in architecture and surveying.

By investing in the continuous learning and development of its employees, the Group aims to enhance their capabilities and foster their professional growth.

The Group attaches great importance to the sustainability of the environment. Although the Group does not operate any manufacturing facilities and is not a major source of environmental pollution given its operations do not generate material air, noise, water, physical waste or other types of pollutants, the Group is committed to making every effort to protect the environment in its business activities and workplaces. The Group seeks to identify and manage environmental impacts attributable to its operations, in order to minimise these impacts if possible. The Group has adopted various measures to reduce energy and other resource use, minimise waste and increase recycling, and promote environmental protection in its supply chain and marketplace. The Group also educates its employees, to increase their awareness of promoting a green environment.

Emissions and Energy Consumption & Waste Reduction and Management

The Group’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly arise from indirect emissions resulting from the use of purchased electricity. To ensure the emission management goals are achieved, the Group has adopted the following measures in its Hong Kong office and investment properties, to reduce energy consumption and improve overall energy efficiency. In response to the government’s efforts to support clean transportation, carparks at several of the Group’s investment properties are equipped with charging facilities for electric vehicles. Through consistently measuring, setting targets for and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, the Group can effectively assess and manage the risks associated with increased energy consumption, reduce its impact on the environment, and realise cost savings.

The Group engages employees in their waste behaviours and encourages recycling practices in the workplace in order to minimise the environmental impacts arising from waste disposal. The waste generated by the Group in its Hong Kong office is mainly household waste. In the office building, the building’s property management company has appointed recycling contractor to collect and recycle used papers, plastic bottles, aluminium, fluorescent tubes and computer equipment. Recycled bags are also put in the Hong Kong office to collect waste papers for recycling. The Group also joins hands with tenants to maximise recycling efforts by providing waste separation facilities in its certain investment properties.

Reduction of Paper Use

Apart from electricity, paper is another major resource that is consumed in the Group’s operations. The Group continues to encourage a paperless working environment which not only reduces environmental damage but also fits commercial goals, as it can save physical space, facilitate information sharing via IT networks, and reduce complicated documentation procedures. In recent years, the Group has implemented paperless internal operating processing such as claims applications, payrolls, leave applications, surveys, performance appraisals, inspection forms and many more. From time to time, the Group shares tips on paper reduction with colleagues – such as utilising used envelopes for internal correspondences, and using laptops or tablets instead of paper for meetings. Besides, electronic channels or devices are widely used for the Group’s advertisements and promotional activities.

Partnering with its printing solutions provider, the Group has adopted “Follow You” print solution in the Hong Kong office, helping the Group becoming more cost efficient through smarter printing. The print solution enables the Group to achieve environmental objectives by reducing unclaimed printing, as printing is released only upon presentation of a staff card from that particular staff who gives the printing instruction. Moreover, duplex printing and copying have become the norm within the Group, greatly reducing paper consumption and saving costs. Usage data of office printing machines is regularly collected and assessed for monitoring the efficiency of the paperless environment. To reduce the related impact, the Group strives to use papers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in the Hong Kong office.

Green Construction

The Group is committed to achieving a sustainable future through green building practices. Deepening its commitment to building a green living environment, the Group aims to achieve certification through relevant green building assessment schemes. As a Silver Patron Member of the Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited, the Group’s new developments have adopted Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Plus standards recognised and certified by the Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited. The Group has also incorporated a range of environmental friendly designs and systems in its projects.

Supply Chain Management

The Group acknowledges the substantial benefit of robust and transparent supply chain management for its business operations, and places high importance on the quality of its operations and products. The Group has therefore instituted a thorough and stringent supply chain management system, including clear oversight mechanisms to monitor the performance and compliance of its suppliers.

As a responsible developer, the Group strives to deliver the highest possible quality of products for its customers, and also expects the same quality from its selected suppliers, in order to maintain its high reputation and the high levels of customer satisfaction regarding the Group’s services and products. Hence, the Group has set rules and policies for selecting suppliers, contractors and tenderers.

The Group has adopted a strict process for selecting suppliers by tenders. During the tendering procedure, tenderers are requested to submit their environmental plan, quality control plan and safety plan as key factors for consideration. In the outsourcing process, company history, industry reputation and past job references are taken into consideration before choosing reliable suppliers.

Product Responsibility and Customer Services

The Group’s strong commitment to quality is underscored by its professional team, which spans a wide array of expertise including project management, leasing services, interior design, etc. Understanding customer needs is critical to the Group’s success. The Group closely interacts with its diverse customer base, which spans tenants, residents, hospitality guests, diners, shoppers and home buyers.

With proven expertise in property management, the Group provides tenant-focused facility management and generates refreshing visitors’ experience across its office and retail portfolio. To better engage with its tenants, the Group’s staff make occasional courtesy calls and visits, and conduct customer satisfaction surveys in order to understand their service needs.

The Group is dedicated to providing homebuyers with a superior experience before, during and after product delivery. Each of the Group’s developments is thoughtfully designed and built with attention to detail to create family-friendly homes. To ensure the quality and building requirements are met, the Quality Control Team periodically makes site visits and monitors the progress of developments. Professional consultants, such as architects and engineers, are also hired to inspect sites on request, and provide specific professional advice. To help prospective purchasers make informed decisions, the Group provides timely and accurate information about its residential properties. The Group also ensures its sales and marketing of residential properties strictly comply with “Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance” (Cap. 621, Laws of Hong Kong). During the handover, a dedicated customer service team follows thorough procedures to ensure that the units delivered to the homebuyers are in satisfactory condition.

Protection of Intellectual Property

The Group attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property and is committed to complying with relevant laws, regulations and international standards. The Group protects its intellectual proper ty rights by prolonged use and registration of domain names and various trademarks. The Group has registered trademarks in various classes in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China. The Group’s trademarks and domain names are constantly monitored and renewed prior to their expiration. The Group provides regular trainings on intellectual property protection to employees, covering overviews on the latest intellectual property laws and guidelines on the use of trademarks, so as to enhance employees’ awareness on the latest development of relevant laws and the best practice for the protection of the Group’s intellectual properties. The Group will continue improving and updating its intellectual property protection policies and measures to ensure that its business operations comply with the latest legal and regulatory requirements and protect the legitimate rights and interests of intellectual property.

Anti-Corruption/Anti-Money Laundering

The Group adopts a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of corruption and bribery. It is essential for the Group’s employees to have a deep understanding of bribery, extortion, corruption and related acts, in order to maintain compliance and integrity in business operations. Strictly adhering to the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201, Laws of Hong Kong), an Anti-Corruption Policy and Procedures has been established, in which a set of guidelines in giving and receiving gifts, or offer in the form of meals, accommodation and entertainment, as well as interacting with business partners and government officials, was established to outline acceptable and unacceptable conduct in employees’ daily business activities. The Group aims to ensure every employee adheres to applicable legal requirements and makes ethical business decisions. Besides, special care must additionally be taken to ensure that all business dealings with business partners and government officials are conducted in a context that is free from any form of corrupt practices.

Anti-money laundering is one of the areas of high concern in the industry, and the Group has long adopted an Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Policy and Procedure (“AML Policy”). The AML Policy establishes the general framework for combating potential money laundering and financing of terrorism, and provides guidelines for preventing the Group’s employees from being misused for money laundering, terrorist financing or other financial crimes. The AML Policy indicates part of potentially suspicious transactions or activities that employees should look out for.

The Group has also adopted a whistle-blowing policy and procedures for all levels and operations under the Group, so staff can raise concerns, in confidence, about possible improprieties (such as misconduct and malpractice) in any matter related to the Group. The Group’s whistle-blowing policy encourages all staff to report any actual or suspected improper conduct, in confidence, to their immediate supervisor or department head. The Group also guarantees confidentiality of the whistle-blowers’ identities and protection from harassment.

Data Protection

The Group places utmost importance on protecting the privacy of its customers, partners and staff in the collection, handling, safekeeping, use and retention of their personal data. The Group adheres to the applicable data protection regulations and ensures appropriate technical measures are in place to protect personal data against unauthorised disclosure, use or access. The Group also ensures that customers’ personal data is securely stored, and used only for the purpose for which it has been collected and such other purposes as expressly consented by customers. In addition, relevant staff are provided with guidelines in compliance with applicable laws on data privacy protection, to strengthen their awareness and to protect personal data against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure. To minimise risks of data leakage, access to customer database is limited to authorised staff. The Group does not share any personal data with third parties unless in accordance with law. To reduce the risk of identity theft, the Group takes appropriate measures to dispose of documents that contain customer information.

The Group places a strong emphasis on compliance and considers it a core value in all aspects of its operations. The Group is committed to upholding ethical business practices and complying with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. Compliance is not only a legal obligation to the Group, but a fundamental principle that guides its decision-making and ensures that the Group operates with integrity and transparency. The Group has implemented robust compliance frameworks and internal controls to mitigate risks and ensure that its actions align with the Group’s values. By prioritising compliance, the Group aims to foster trust, maintain the confidence of its stakeholders, and contribute to a sustainable and responsible business environment.

Embracing the mission “From the Community, To the Community”, the Group actively promotes diverse community campaigns spanning elderly welfare, underprivileged communities and environmental conservation initiatives. The Group’s management team also plays an important role in mobilizing staff to join all these activities, which are held in tandem with its commitment to sustainable development.

To strengthen the connections with community, the Group has offered to non-profit organisations to use the Group’s shopping mall as venue for their fundraising events, benefiting the local community and people in needs.