CEO discusses Link's approach to sustainability at C40 Hong Kong Workshop

(Hong Kong, November 6, 2010) Mr. George Hongchoy, Chief Executive Officer of The Link Management Limited ("The Link Management"), in addition to mediating at a session on public policy of the C40 Hong Kong Workshop this morning, shared with conference delegates The Link's sustainable approach to the management of its property portfolio.

The Link Management Limited manages The Link REIT ("The Link"), which owns a portfolio of 180 retail and car park properties with a total of over 400 buildings, serving nearly 40 per cent of Hong Kong's population.

The Link's portfolio primarily consists of properties which were formerly owned by the Housing Authority and were built from the 1960's through 2000. Whilst acknowledging that it would take some time for The Link to retrofit the properties to bring them up to a modern standard - particularly in energy efficiency and sustainable requirements - Mr. Hongchoy nevertheless maintained that the Link is committed to the implementation of green initiatives and to environmental policies in a consistent manner across its portfolio, with a view to reducing its carbon footprint and to achieve sustainable development.

"In terms of facility management, we require and ensure our contractors, sub-contractors, products and materials meet our CSR commitments and environmental goals, which results in controlling our Green House Gas emissions, reducing our carbon foot-print and thus our impact on climate change," said Mr. Hongchoy.

"Green buildings are not just about the physical structure, but how to manage and maintain them throughout the buildings' life cycle. For example, we are retrofitting energy efficient water cooled chillers in a bid to reduce operational expenses with lower energy use," explained Mr. Hongchoy.

"Last year alone, through implementing various measures in our daily property and facilities management, The Link REIT has saved close to 8 per cent of our total energy consumption, over 18 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is equivalent to a reduction of 10.3 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions," added Mr. Hongchoy

To inspire sustainable organic living within the community, Mr. Hongchoy asserted that The Link has launched Hong Kong's first-ever urban Eco Terrace at its flagship centre, Lok Fu Plaza. The Eco Terrace showcased over 5,000 pots of approximately 15,000 sets of seasonal organic vegetables at the centre's outdoor podium and staircases and the green project encouraged the community to participate in organic farming activities at the terraced field.

"Together with the power companies, we have pioneered in the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles in our car parks to encourage wider use of this new breed of environment-friendly cars," he said.

"Adoption of the 3R's - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - is critical to sustainable development. We are promoting the 3R's through environmental awareness activities at our centres."

"The Link is confident that going forward, our customers, users and investors alike will reap further rewards and benefits from our corporate sustainability strategy, as we strive for long term sustainable growth in the years to come," concluded Mr. Hongchoy.

As part of the four-day International Conference on Climate Dialogue (3-6 November) that brings together stakeholders from both the public and local and international private sectors to exchange views on how to expedite the trajectory to tackle climate change, the C40 Hong Kong Workshop on 5-6 November has provided a platform for policy-makers and experts from cities from around the world to share experience on policies and technologies to achieve low carbon living.

To advance the discourse on issues relating to climate change and global warming, The Link is a committed hospitality sponsor and a special contributor to conference literatures of the C40 Hong Kong Workshop.

C40 is a group of large cities, including Hong Kong, which committed to tackling climate change. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group offers cities an effective forum in which to work together and share best practice as well as experience amongst cities.