Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): HKQAA Symposium 2017 (Part 2)

HKQAA Symposium is key annual event organized by Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) on 18^th May 2017. Hong Kong Society for Quality (HKSQ) is one of supporting organizations since 2006. The symposium’s frame in 2017 was “Governance, Risk and Compliance Management in the Era of Sustainability” and I summarized it below for sharing. Before the afternoon session, I met my old friend Dr. Nigel Croft (ISO Technical Subcommittee on Quality Systems (ISO/TC176/SC2) and took a photo for memory.

Then I also took a photo with my old friend Mr. Ronald, YF Lau (Chairman, Hong Kong Food Hygiene Administrators Association; Vice-President, Hong Kong Food Council).

I met one of speaker Dr. Mei Kei Ieong (CTO, ASTRI) (Left) and Mr. Jim Hui (Quality Manager, ASTRI) (also our HKSQ member) and then we took a photo for memory.

Afternoon Session

Ir. C.S. Ho (Deputy Chairman, HKQAA) gave an opening speech. He said it is the Era of Sustainability. HKQAA provided a platform through different scheme such as CSR Index to sharing knowledge. It needed to review the trend of urban planning. He believed that “Protect Environment Better, We Live Better.”

The first speaker was Ms. Phyllis Li, JP (Deputy Director of Planning (Territorial, Planning Department, the Government of the HKSAR) and her topic entitled "Sustainable Urban Planning Transcending 2030: Strategies for a Smart Green and Resilient City". Beginning, she briefed the Hong Kong 2030+ strategic planning and it aimed to update the territorial development strategy to guide planning, land and infrastructure development, and the shaping of the built and natural environment of Hong Kong beyond 2030.

Then Ms. Phyllis Li briefed the global megatrends to us including Ageing Population, Scarcity of Natural Resources, etc. Based on the megatrends, Hong Kong context would be changed and we needed to plan to adopt it. After that she overviewed HK 2030+ from Vision, to Overarching Planning Goal, to Three Building Blocks, and to Conceptual Spatial Framework.

There were three Key Strategic Directions and Actions.

1) Planning for a Liveable High-density City

2) Embracing New Economic Challenges and Opportunities

3) Creating Capacity for Sustainable Growth

The proposed Conceptual Spatial Framework in Hong Kong region was showed as follow diagram.

Finally, Ms. Li expected Smart, Green and Resilient City Strategy could achieve the ultimate objectives on Low Carbon, City Efficiency, Climatic Resilience and Quality Living. Lastly, she concluded that technology and innovation will enable a new era of city development, taking care of needs of the people, environment and nature.

Sr. Wong Bay (Chairman, Hong Kong Green Building Council) was the second speaker and his presentation named "Policy and Market Drivers for Green Building Initiative: Trends and Development". Mr. Wong briefed the Paris Climate Agreement to explain the important of the Policy drivers.

Then he stated the market drivers on green building from 2008 to 2015. Client demand increased upto 40% and Environmental Regulations increased upto 35%. However, the Market demand and Right thing to do were decreased. But the World Green Building Trends 2016 stated the number 1 benefit of Green Building was Lower Operating Cost (upto 57%).

In Hong Kong, human activities in buildings were responsible for 60% GHG emission and 90% Electricity use. The following diagram showed the different market drivers for Green Building in Hong Kong. Finally, Mr. Wong quoted Lao-Zhuang wisdom to conclude the Green Building returning to nature.

Prof. Alfred CM Chan (Chairperson, Equal Opportunities Commission, HK) was the third speaker and his topic entitled “Ageing Society and Workforce: Managing Challenges and Opportunities”. Firstly, he briefed the context included world population trends and ageing in the Asia-Pacific, as well as challenges on ageing in Hong Kong.

Prof. Chan mentioned China population was number 1 in the global population in 2011. However, the number 1 population would be India in 2050! Then he stated the population ageing in Asia such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippine in 2050. Fertility trends was decreasing and it was the global trend.

Since Hong Kong total fertility rate was low (only 1.03, where world average is 2.53) and life expectancy was high (about 82.4, where world average is 68.7), Prof. Chan proposed a new approach to overcome this challenge. He proposed longer therm planning for older adults as follows:

1. Promote healthy lifestyles

2. Early detection & intervention

3. Promote access to employment and volunteering

4. Support and encourage life-long learning

5. Promote the use of technology

6. Expand and improve the coverage of retirement protection

Finally, he used one simple message for every citizen from young to old as conclusion that Save Money, Save Health and Save Friends!

Dr. Mei Kei Ieong (CTO, ASTRI) was the fourth speaker and his presentation entitled “Digital Innovation and Re-industrialization: Implications for Operation and Security Management”. Firstly, he introduced the Intelligent Manufacturing (IM) that no worker involved in production line and prevent human error and contamination; and Internet of Thing (IoT) that employees monitor and control connected equipment in control center only.

Then Dr. Ieong discussed recently WannaCry Ransomware cyber-attacks that IoT security was very important. He suggested three possible solutions included IoT Standardization, Blockchain to trace the attack source and Artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning. He also mentioned the ASTRI Security Lab (ASL) established for cyber-security.

Finally, he mentioned ICT infrastructure for smart city application and how ASTRI & its partners to establish R&D Ecosystem.

The fifth speaker was Mr. Yu Kam Hung (Executive Committee member in China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and International Chapter) and his topic was “Optimize Asset Performance, Manage Diversified Risks”. He introduced how to optimize asset performance and to manage diversified risks.

Mr. Yu explained the definition of Asset Performance Optimization as follows:

1. Maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses

2. Maximize the monetary value and social value the asset creates

3. Minimize the cost of producing that value

4. Extend asset lifespan and reduce maintenance cost

He also classified four categories of risks below.

1. Systematic risk – risk that cannot be foreseen or avoided. In real estate, specific risk included imperfect market and illiquid.

2. Economic risk – risk due to over-exposure on certain asset class. Overweighting / Underweighting in certain business sectors

3. Location risk – risk due to over-exposure on certain location. Overweighting / Underweighting in certain geographical regions

4. Political risk – risk caused by political uncertainties. Unstable political environment; Possibilities of war etc.

Finally, he concluded that sustainable income could be achieved throught optimization of asset performance and risk diversification.

The last speaker in afternoon session was Dr. Nigel Croft (ISO Technical Subcommittee on Quality Systems (ISO/TC176/SC2)) and his topic entitled "From Sustainable Construction to Sustainable Procurement: The Past and Future of ISO’s Sustainability Standards". In the beginning, he briefed the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Those sustainable development goals rearranged under People, Prosperity and Planet showed as following diagram. Then Nigel quoted Kofi Annan (Nobel Peace Prize 2001) statement that “ISO standards are crucial to sustainable development as they are key source of technology know how”.

Then he briefed the sustainable construction through Environmental, Economic and Social aspects.

The integrating ISO 26000 core concepts into purchasing were discussed.

ISO 20400 guidance on sustainable procurement was also mentioned. It was the standard as reference for Green Procurement. He concluded that ISO had a whole range of standards to support sustainable development and could help to promote HK’s sustainability initiatives.