Why Green Buildings Matter for Hong Kong & China
Thursday, February 26, 2009

A Luncheon Panel Discussion

Keith Kerr
Chairman, Swire Properties

Marjorie Yang
Chairman, Esquel Group

Edward Yau
Secretary for the Environment, HKSAR

Opening Remarks
Qin Xiao
Chairman, China Merchants Group

The idea of green buildings is no longer a fringe idea but is at the heart of economic and environmental policies around the world. Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, promised to legislate mandatory building energy efficiency standards in Hong Kong. With buildings accounting for about a third of the world’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, energy-inefficient buildings could have dire consequences for sustained economic development. How can greater energy savings be achieved through better building design and operation? What are businesses and governments doing in Hong Kong, China and around Asia? What should be done in the foreseeable future to reap economic and environmental benefits from energy-efficient buildings?

Keith Kerr is Chairman of Swire Properties. Swire has implemented comprehensive energy saving measures across its investment portfolio and set up a building energy efficiency research fund with Tsinghua University in 2008. Marjorie Yang is Chairman of Esquel Group and a newly-appointed Executive Councillor, HKSAR. Esquel Group has implemented a wide range of energy-efficient practices covering power generation, water treatment, and production equipment. Edward Yau is Secretary for the Environment, HKSAR and oversees the implementation of energy efficiency measures, including the proposed legislation for the mandatory implementation of the Building Energy Codes, as part of his environmental portfolio. Qin Xiao is Chairman of China Merchants Group which developed China’s first LEED-certified commercial building. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.