In a recent interview with Chinachem Group’s Life+ Magazine, former Secretary for the Environment, Wong Kam-sing explained his motivation for leaving a position as architect in the private sector, and crossing over to Government.
“The way to make a difference, is by changing the regulations, not just by building a single building.”
When it comes to protecting and enhancing the environment, taking collective action has been proven to be the only way to direct change at a meaningful level. For this approach to be effective, it must extend beyond the organisaton itself to include the partners, associates, and stakeholders who work with Chinachem to achieve its goals.
Speaking about this, regular Chinachem collaborator Bryant Lu, Vice Chairman of Ronald Lu and Partners, Hong Kong’s leading local design firm, explains.
“Our companies both share the same vision and same values. Sustainability is for everyone, doing great projects together that benefit not just the user, or the owner, but the community as well.”
Change can also come from the adoption of new technology, and Chinachem is currently leading the charge for an industry wide adoption of MiC, or Modular Integrated Construction, a system of pre-forming building sections offsite in a factory, to be assembled later on site. This methodology reduces waste, noise, safety risks, and increases the pace of delivery and ability to control quality.
Speaking about the first private project in Hong Kong to adopt MiC, Chinachem’s Tonkin Street project, director of construction firm Gammon, Sammy Lai observed,
“It’s a collaborative effort from both sides. Chinachem had their own goals and green objectives in their specifications. And at Gammon, we also have our own initiatives and standards we’re trying to achieve. So, when we bring those two together, it creates a powerful synergy.”
This fresh approach, using MiC to improve environmental performance, delivered impressive results. Sammy adds,
“We reduced on site labour by 70%, removed 65% of construction noise, 65% of waste, 60% of traffic loading in Hong Kong, and 80% of on-site lifting.”
Impact this positive and this immediate, shows how worthwhile the investment has been, and Chinachem are already forging ahead with more projects using this methodology.
This commitment to continuous assessment and improvement lies at the core of Chinachem’s mission to create Places with Heart. But it also relies on cooperation and adoption by stakeholders right across the business spectrum, so choosing the right partners is key. So much more can be achieved by cooperation.
