Hysan is guided by the principle of being a responsible business. We aim to achieve our business objectives within a framework of high standards that takes account of the needs of our stakeholders, including our impact on the communities in which we operate, as well as the environment.

FTSE4Good is one of the best known international indices for socially responsible investment, and Hysan has been included as its constituent member since September 2008. Members of the Index have met stringent globally-recognised corporate responsibility standards in the social, ethical and environmental areas. While Hysan is proud to be recognised for its socially responsible achievements, it will continue to explore other opportunities to do more and hopes its contributions can set examples for others to follow.

Community

Hysan pays strong attention to how and in what manner it achieves its results. Hysan undertakes actions to truly put its corporate values of being responsible into practice.

In the past few years, Hysan has been providing a community service platform for staff, corporate partners and other stakeholders. In the summer of 2009, Hong Kong Christian Service, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School and Hysan organised the third installment of an English-speaking life-skills programme Project Go-Ahead primarily for ethnic minority students. It was a programme with a twist: participants learnt basics about running a business and were then asked to set up either eco or heritage tours as social enterprises. The main aims were to build confidence, understand the business world and create support among those from different social/ethnic backgrounds.

Hysan's volunteers also took active roles in several community projects. In 2009, our colleagues took up the challenges to be teachers in two separate activities: Business Environment Council's Corporate Sustainability for Schools programme, and Young Entrepreneurs Development Council's School-Company Partnership. Another Hysan volunteer group partnered with the Chung Ying Theatre to host a drama-based life skills fun-day for youths in the Kwai Ching area. We also took part in projects with St. James' Settlement, a local charitable organisation. Staff held parties and gatherings for mentally handicapped children to show care and attention, and invited ethnic minority families to join the Hysan team at the WWF's Mai Po charity walk.

Hysan cares not only about its immediate environment, and its participation as a founding member of the Fair Trade Workplace Society shows its concerns for primary producers in different corners of the world.

Environment

Hysan is committed to environmental awareness and practices.

Hysan's Hennessy Centre redevelopment project sees the first Hong Kong building pre-certified at the highest Platinum level for the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard (LEED). The project also aims for top-level achievement in accordance with Hong Kong's Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM). There will be several large openings at lower levels in the building to enhance natural air ventilation and improve the microclimate in the neighbourhood.

Hysan has worked to achieve significant energy savings through optimisation of operations schedule and implementation of more efficient systems, as well as taking energy conservation into account when it comes to full life cycle maintenance progress.

Using 2005 as a baseline, Hysan made savings of 9 GWh of electricity (equivalent to 12,225 tonnes of CO₂) between 2006 and 2009, a reduction of 17.1% in its buildings (2009 compared with 2008: 1.2% reduction).

In addition to Hysan's own hardware improvement and operational re-scheduling, it also seeks to encourage stakeholders to be energy-efficient. For instance, Hysan revised its fitting out guide for tenants in 2009. Tenants are encouraged to maximise the use of natural lighting in its office/shop designs, increase the use of energy-saving fluorescent and LED lights, as well as other energy-efficient appliances.

Hysan was awarded another full set of "Class of Excellence", Hong Kong Government's Wastewi$e labels, for all our buildings in 2008/09. This was achieved through the recycling of close to 800,000 kg of waste paper, as well as significant reduction in the consumption of plastic rubbish bags and paper products.

We affirm to all our stakeholders, including our employees, tenants, shareholders and the public, that we will conduct our business with respect and care for the environment. We have in place an Environment, Health and Safety Policy which forms an integral part of all our business activities.