Report Verification

Assurance Statement

The Architectural Services Department ("ArchSD") has prepared its Sustainability Report 2022 (hereinafter referred to as "the Report") in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards 2021 (GRI Standards). The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) was commissioned by ArchSD to provide independent verification¹ of the Report for its sustainability performance in terms of environmental, social and economic aspects between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021. It covers the sustainability performance and initiatives of ArchSD's four project management branches, five functional branches and two central management divisions.

Objectives

The main objective of HKPC's verification work was to provide independent assurance on the completeness, accuracy and reliability of the information presented in the Report. More specifically, the objectives were to:

assess whether the scope of the Report covered all significant aspects of ArchSD's sustainability performance;
check whether the Report is in accordance with the GRI Standards;
review whether the data collection and information management mechanisms used to prepare the Report were reliable; and
provide recommendations for future reports.

Approach

HKPC's verification procedures consisted of a comprehensive review of the Report, followed by the selection and verification of a representative sample of statements and data pertaining to the significant sustainability topics of ArchSD². During an interview with the ArchSD representatives, we reviewed and examined the data collation systems and supporting materials relating to the selected statements and data as well as ArchSD's relevant management practices and initiatives.

Conclusion

The Report generally conforms to the GRI Standards. It presents an overview of ArchSD's environmental, social and economic performance with respect to its key services, activities and initiatives. In terms of the accuracy and reliability of the Report, the selected sample of statements and data examined during the verification process was consistent with the source materials reviewed and reflected a fair account of ArchSD's environmental, social and economic performance. The data collation and information management systems adopted were generally considered to be reliable.

Carbon and Environmental Excellence
Green Living and Innovation Division
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Head
Ir Kenny Wong
21 October 2022

^[1]

This verification statement has been prepared for ArchSD for the purpose of assuring the statements and data presented in its Sustainability Report 2022 only. The statement was prepared based on HKPC's review of the selected sample of information provided by ArchSD during the verification process. HKPC will not accept or assume any responsibility or liability (legal or otherwise) in relation to this verification statement.

^[2]

Our verification work did not cover data and information which had already been published in the press releases, on ArchSD's website, in its annual reports or other publications.