Hong Kong – ACE responds to media report on EIA report on partial development of Fanling Golf Course site

ACE responds to media report on EIA report on partial development of Fanling Golf Course site

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The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Council on the Environment:
 
     In response to the media report today (May 5) on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on Technical Study on Partial Development of Fanling Golf Course Site – Feasibility Study, the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) Secretariat has the following response:
      
     At the ACE meeting on May 3, 2023, the presentation slide of the Environmental Protection Department, showing “The ACE already voted on the acceptance of EIA report”, was meant to point out that the ACE had voted on whether the EIA report should be accepted rather than the ACE had voted to accept the EIA report during the ACE meeting on August 19, 2022. The voting results and details of the ACE meeting have been duly recorded in the confirmed meeting minutes. In addition, ACE Paper No. 9/2023 and the press release issued by the ACE after the meeting on May 3 have clearly set out the background of the subject, including the first round of voting on “endorsing the EIA report with conditions” which was not passed and the second round of voting on “Additional Information would be required from project proponent” which was passed. 
      
     The relevant meeting minutes, press release and discussion paper of the ACE are available on the website:
 
Meeting Minutes: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/english/boards/advisory_council/files/ACE-254-minutes-web-0819-2.pdf
ACE’s press release: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202305/03/P2023050300759.htm
ACE’s discussion paper: www.eeb.gov.hk/sites/default/files/en/node5840/ACE_P9_2023_BN.pdf

Sustainability Report 2022: Air Liquide presents its results and sets additional objectives

Paris, France – WEBWIRE

On the occasion of the publication of its annualCorporate Sustainability Report,Air Liquide reflects on its progress towards its commitments, while taking a step further with additional sustainability objectives, including new commitments on Scope 3 and biodiversity. With this renewed ambition, Air Liquide confirms its determination to link inseparably financial and extra financial performance as announced in its 2025 strategic plan ADVANCE.

Fabienne Lecorvaisier, Executive Vice President and member of the Executive Committee, notably in charge of Sustainable Development, said:

More than a stated ambition, for Air Liquide, sustainability is a commitment with concrete actions. It takes more than conviction. We have implemented robust processes and governance to drive our decarbonization efforts. Combined with the commitment of our employees, this is producing results. However, as we progress on this challenging journey, we continue to enhance our stewardship by adding a new set of commitments. Air Liquide is engaged on a clear path and advancing towards a sustainable future, linking inseparably financial and sustainability performance in its 2025 strategic plan ADVANCE.

Based on a comprehensive approach,Air Liquides sustainable development strategy is based on three pillars : Advancing for the environment, for health and for all.

Advancing for the environment:to address key issues, in particular to fight climate change, Air Liquide is acting to minimize its CO2 emissions, while developing a wide range of low carbon solutions for its customers, including hydrogen, CO2 capture and access to renewable energy. The Group is also committing to water management and biodiversity preservation.

  • Air Liquidereduced its carbon intensity by -25%, compared to 2015, and is on track to achieve its objective to reduce by -30% its carbon intensity by 2025.
  • In line with the objective ofreaching a -33% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 of its absolute CO2 emissions by 2035, with an inflection point in 2025, and on track with reachingcarbon neutrality by 2050, the Groups 2022 absolute CO2 emissions have remained stable for two years in a row while Air Liquide has continued to develop the business.
  • Air Liquide increased its renewable energy sourcing volumes by +10%versus 2021, in particular to supply its biggest oxygen production site in the world, located in South Africa.
  • New– to strenghten its engagement to the entire value chain and further address CO2 emissions downstream of its operations, Air Liquide has undertakenits first Scope 3 objectiveto have, within two years, 75% of its Top 50 customers committed to 2050 Carbon neutrality and bring it to 100% by 2035.
  • New– the Group is taking a commitment toreinforce biodiversity assessment criteria into the investment processfor all new projects by 2024 and to develop and implement an aggregated biodiversity indicator by 2025.

Advancing for health:as a major supplier of medical oxygen and home healthcare services, Air Liquides ambition is to contribute to shaping the future of healthcare. In mature economies, aging populations and evolution in lifestyles are leading to an increase in chronic diseases, while in low- and middle-income countries, access to care is the main challenge.

  • Air Liquide is playing a role in transforming healthcare and contributing to improve quality of life to the ~1.9 million patients served in 2022, with49% of its patients on personalized care plans.
  • In low- and middle-income countries, the Groupfacilitated access to medical oxygen to 1.8 million people.

Advancing for all:addressing societal objectives, Air Liquide recognizes that long-term performance is based on the quality of its relationship with employees, customers, patients, shareholders, suppliers and local communities around the world.

  • In 2022, Air Liquide increased the presence ofwomen among its managers and professionals to 31.5%, compared to 26% in 2012. It is in line to reach its target of 35% by 2025.
  • Reaching42% of deployment, the Group is on track to bring a common basis ofcare coverage to 100% of its employees by 2025 worldwide. This includes death and disability benefits, health coverage and a minimum 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. The Group currently has 67,100 employees.

From employees to the Board members, the Air Liquide organization is embarked on a transformation journey. In order to implement its action plan and track progress, Air Liquide has ensured that the properGovernance and Processesare in place.

  • Global objectives have been translated intolocal decarbonization plans, developed in close conjunction with the Groups activities (business lines) and taking into account geographical and customer specificities.
  • In order to bring more accuracy and robustness to reporting of metrics, new tools have been implemented. A very significant development in 2022 was theroll-out of a CO2 budget. Followed quarterly, it isembedded into the investment decision processto ensure that the Group remains on track on its trajectory. As a reminder, Air Liquide has committed to invest 16 billion between 2022-2025, of which around 50% will be directed towards Energy transition projects
  • The Group has also deployedinternal networks of expertsand training programs, as well as included Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics in remuneration plans of managers.

New report reveals 1 in 3 UK adults prefer to holiday in UK than overseas

CHESTER, U.K.Feb. 3, 2023PRLog — This month, VisitEngland released new survey results tracking travel sentiments and attitudes to domestic travel in the midst of the cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing that 1 in 3 UK adults would prefer to take a trip in the UK rather than overseas in the next six months.

Furthermore, an encouraging 70% of the 1,500 UK adults aged 16+ surveyed said they have the intention to take a UK overnight trip in the next 12 months, compared to just half (52%) who said they intend to travel overseas in the same time period.

The report, analysed by UK campervan hire travel providers Calico Campers, reveals that overnight domestic trip intentions are well above the levels anticipated in January 2022, with 16% of respondents planning a trip in January to March 2023, and 35% between April and June this year.

When asked to think about UK travel intentions this year compared to UK holidays taken before the Covid-19 pandemic, the report reveals that at a ‘net level, domestic trip intentions are above pre-pandemic levels and that overseas intentions are still some way below.

A staggering 31% of those surveyed indicated they are more likely to choose a trip in the UK than overseas in the next six months– the top reason being that ‘UK holidays are easier to plan’ (60%). The rest of the top 5 reasons why those surveyed are opting for a UK holiday than going overseas are;

1. UK holidays are easier to plan (60%)

2. UK holidays are cheaper (48%)

3. To avoid long queues at airports/cancelled flights (40%)

4. Shorter / quicker travel (39%)

5. Uncertainty around restrictions at overseas destinations (32%)

The current cost of living crisis is set to have an impact on UK travel plans, but for those who still intend on having a UK holiday, the top three ways that respondents plan on saving money whilst on holiday include looking for more ‘free’ things to do (33%), choosing cheaper accommodation (31%) and spending less on eating out (30%).

The top destination type for an overnight domestic trip up to March 2023 is ‘countryside or village’. From April to September 2023 it is ‘traditional coastal/seaside town’, both top destination types marrying up with the campervan hire service provided by Calico Campers.

The top three motivations for taking an overnight UK trip between January and June this year include ‘to get away from it all and have a rest’, to have ‘family time or time with my partner’ and ‘to connect with nature/ be outdoors’. Calico Campers reveals that the top activity for UK holidays happening between April and June 2023 comes out as walking, hiking or rambling (40%).

Claire Havey, Co-owner of UK campervan hire travel providers Calico Campers (http://www.calico-campers.co.uk) comments;

“Reports like these published by VisitEngland are invaluable and insightful for small UK travel providers like ourselves. It’s really exciting to see just how many people are set to opt for a UK holiday this year.

“We are huge advocates of exploring what this wonderful country has to offer and supporting local tourism in every way we can. The volume of bookings we already have for 2023 certainly suggest that a nature-filled road trip with family and friends to get away from it all is something people want to have to look forward to during these difficult times.”

The South West of England comes out on top for the place most visited in the last three months of 2022 (19%) and the area most people intend to visit in the first three months of this year (17%).

ENDS

Hong Kong – “Quarterly Report on General Household Survey” for July to September 2022 published

“Quarterly Report on General Household Survey” for July to September 2022 published

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     The “Quarterly Report on General Household Survey” for July to September 2022 is now available for download.


 


     The report contains statistics on labour force, employment, unemployment and underemployment for the third quarter of 2022. It also contains detailed analyses of the characteristics of different categories of members of the labour force, including their age, sex, educational attainment, employment status, occupation, industry, hours worked per week and monthly employment earnings, etc. Information on reasons for leaving last job and duration of unemployment for the unemployed is also presented.


 


     Users can download the report from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050001&scode=200).


 


     The summary of broad survey findings published in the report is shown in Table 1 attached. Enquiries about the contents of the report can be directed to the General Household Survey Section (3), Census and Statistics Department (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).


Japan – Hitachi Publishes “Hitachi Integrated Report 2022” and “Hitachi Sustainability Report 2022”

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) has published “Hitachi Integrated Report 2022” and “Hitachi Sustainability Report 2022” as communication tools for stakeholders.
Hitachi considers the Integrated Report as a tool to mainly disclose Hitachi’s value creation story. The “Hitachi Integrated Report 2022” was created based on our hope to give our stakeholders a better understanding of Hitachi’s vision and create value by encouraging further dialogue. This report describes Hitachi’s future vision, management, and business strategies under the Mid-term Management Plan 2024(1). In addition, the report highlights the measures Hitachi is taking to realize a sustainable society.

The Sustainability Report discloses Hitachi’s approach to sustainability and reports the ESG- related information comprehensively. The “Hitachi Sustainable Report 2022” highlights the specific measures that Hitachi is taking to promote sustainable management under the newly strengthened sustainability management structure.

The key point of these reports is the clarification of six critical issues (material topics) in sustainable management in light of global initiatives and the expectations and needs of stakeholders. The Senior Executive Committee and Board of Directors will further discuss these issues during their meetings, along with the business strategies described in the Mid- term Management Plan 2024.

Hitachi will fulfill its responsibility to stakeholders by disclosing information in a fair and highly transparent manner, and by conducting various communication activities.

Key point of disclosure: Clarification of material topics
Setting out from a comprehensive understanding of social issues, Hitachi has identified 6 material topics and 15 sub-material topics based on an analysis of risks and opportunities from a sustainability perspective as well as feedback from stakeholders. Please see page 15 of each report for more details.

(1) April 28, 2022: Mid-term Management Plan 2024 www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/month/2022/04/220428/f_220428pre.pdf

Hitachi Integrated Report 2022
English
www.hitachi.com/IR-e/library/integrated/ Japanese
www.hitachi.co.jp/IR/library/integrated/

Hitachi Sustainable Report 2022
English
www.hitachi.com/sustainability/download/ Japanese
www.hitachi.co.jp/sustainability/download/

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at www.hitachi.com.

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