BDO announces winners of the BDO ESG Awards 2021

Third year of this pioneering awards conferment show exemplary HK-listed companies are moving beyond their stakeholders’ expectation from ESG reporting in response to the revised HKEx guideline and rising interest in ESG across the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic

HONG KONG SAR – Media
OutReach – 23 February 2021 – BDO, the world’s fifth largest
accountancy network, announced and honoured today the winners of the third BDO
ESG Awards (“the Awards”). This competition has been widely supported by many
listed enterprises and winners of different awards have been selected from 88
nominations that showcased excellence in ESG reporting and disclosure. Awardees
are recognised for having implemented outstanding sustainability initiatives and
they are selected by a panel of reputable and professional judges. Due to the COVID-19
pandemic, this year’s BDO ESG Awards Presentation Ceremony was held online for
the first time, where awards, our subscribers and the public were invited to
witness the efforts of all awardees in relation to ESG reporting last year.

The first virtual BDO ESG Awards ceremony is held to pay tribute to businesses with strong ESG commitment and outstanding ESG efforts.

 

In addition to
the three existing awards, ‘Best in ESG’, ‘Best in Reporting’ and ‘ESG Report
of the Year’, two new categories have been added this year, namely ‘Theme
Award’ in recognition of companies with outstanding performance in ESG under
the COVID-19 pandemic and ‘ESG Report of the Year — Technology’ in recognition
specifically of companies that demonstrate technological advancement in their
business models and operations, and which perform well in the areas of ESG (see
the full list below).

 

Dr William Yu, Chairman of the Judging Panel of the Best in ESG Awards, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting
recently everyone’s life. Despite challenging times, we are glad to see that HK-listed
companies have implemented various ESG measures with heightened consciousness. During
these unprecedented times, appropriate initiatives should be adopted to help
protect against the spread of Covid-19, while at the same time showcasing how
to perform well and drive business continuity. We are pleased to see that
companies are becoming more aware of the roles of ESG integration and are
enhancing their reporting quality, especially with regard to governance, risk
management, target-setting and transparency. Thanks to BDO for its continuous
efforts in ESG engagement which has attracted more local and international companies
to value the sustainability bandwagon.” 

 

Dr Carlye Tsui BBS JP, Chairman of the Judging Panel of the Best in Reporting
Awards, said, “This
year, we see that the quality of reports competing for BDO ESG awards highlights
companies moving beyond compliance and meeting rising expectations. Companies
that have great regard for ESG values and active board leadership in ESG implementations
for reasons more than just compliance are now enjoying competitive advantages. The Panel of Judges highly commends
the award-winning companies for their earnest efforts. The awardees have
demonstrated immense ideas of originality and thoughtfulness in organising a
state-of-the-art ESG presentation.”

 

Professor Yuk-Shan Wong SBS BBS JP,
Chairman of the Judging Panel of the ESG Report of the Year (Technology) Award
and Theme Award, said, “This year
was not normal for everyone, including the investment community. Under the
COVID-19 pandemic, all industries have been impacted in varying degrees of
severity. Yet, it is heartening to see companies had implemented effective
sustainability initiatives and achieved high standards in ESG engagement. With
the new Theme Awards, it recognised the hard work that companies have done and
their achievement with outstanding ESG performance amid these unprecedented
times.”

 

Mr Clement Chan MH JP, Managing Director of
Assurance, BDO in Hong Kong, said, “This year
marked the third year of the BDO ESG Awards and we are glad to see that more
listed companies have raised their awareness of the importance of their
contribution in ESG. In particular, the Hong Kong Exchange launched the Revised
Guide in late 2020 which is stricter and stipulates more demanding requirements
in terms ESG reporting deadline. Echoing the theme of this year BDO ESG awards
as ‘Revive & Innovate”, and in view of the shifted market focus on
technology company and COVID-19 measures, we have specially created two new
award categories — ‘Theme Award’ and ‘ESG Report of the Year — Technology’ in
order to expand the scope of the BDO ESG Awards and encourage more listed
companies in various industries to enhance their ESG reporting disclosure. And
we are happy to see companies had intensified efforts to adopt appropriate
measures to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 and at the same time
sustain businesses. Going forward, we at BDO will continue to offer them support
to help their companies raise ESG standards and performance and in turn
contribute to overall ESG development in Hong Kong.”

 

Mr Johnson Kong, Managing Director of Non-Assurance, BDO in Hong
Kong, said, “On
behalf of BDO, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the judges who
have committed precious time and their expertise in the judging process to
ensure the credibility and representativeness of the Awards. Under the
pandemic, we view that ESG issues will be increasingly central to investment
decision making, and we are excited to acknowledge that not only large-cap companies
but small mid-cap listed companies have increased their efforts in ESG and
sustainability engagement. BDO, as a comrade of ESG facilitators, will remain
committed as a keen advocate for continuous enhancements in the ESG and ESG
reporting standards of Hong Kong-listed companies towards international standards,
so as to promote Hong Kong as a green financial hub.”

 

Mr Ricky Cheng, Director and Head of Risk Advisory, BDO in Hong
Kong, said, “Over the years, we have noted
that ESG measure is a rising topic among Hong Kong and global investors to
value listed companies and as an indication of a responsible and sustainable
investment. Besides, with the Revised Guide that was launched last year, we
expect more listed companies to wake up to the importance of ESG reporting in
meeting not only stakeholders’ expectations but also those of investors and the
public in the area of ESG performance. We are happy to see more and more companies appreciate the value
of ESG reporting and are willing to put time and resources in various ESG
areas. Riding on the trend, BDO will spare no effort to continue pushing ESG
engagement and further strengthening the leading position of Hong Kong as an International
Financial Centre.”

 

BDO ESG Awards 2021 Winners (listed
in alphabetical order)

 

Best in ESG — Large Cap

CLP Holdings Limited (002.HK)

Lenovo Group Limited (992.HK)

New World Development Company Limited
(017.HK)

Best in ESG — Mid Cap

COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited
(1199.HK)

Xinyi Energy Holdings Limited (3868.HK)

Yuexiu Property Company Limited
(123.HK)

Best in ESG — Small Cap

China Everbright Greentech Limited
(1257.HK)

Sa Sa International Holdings Limited
(178.HK)

Shun Tak Holdings Limited (242.HK)

Best in ESG — GEM

1957 & Co. (Hospitality) Limited
(8495.HK)

Allied Sustainability and
Environmental Consultants Group Limited (8320.HK)

Roma Group Limited (8072.HK)

Best in Reporting — Large Cap

CLP Holdings Limited (002.HK)

Lenovo Group Limited (992.HK)

Sino Land Company Limited (083.HK)

Best in Reporting — Mid Cap

COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited
(1199.HK)

Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust
(778.HK)

Yuexiu Property Company Limited
(123.HK)

Best in Reporting — Small Cap

China
Everbright Greentech Limited (1257.HK)

Landsea Green Properties Company
Limited (106.HK)

Shun Tak Holdings Limited (242.HK)

Best in Reporting — GEM

1957 & Co. (Hospitality) Limited
(8495.HK)

Allied Sustainability and
Environmental Consultants Group Limited (8320.HK)

Roma Group Limited (8072.HK)

ESG Report of the Year — Large
Cap

CLP Holdings Limited (002.HK)

ESG Report of the Year — Mid Cap

COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited
(1199.HK)

ESG Report of the Year — Small Cap

Shun Tak Holdings Limited (242.HK)

ESG Report of the Year — GEM

Roma Group Limited (8072.HK)

Theme Award

Haier Smart Home Company Limited (6690.HK) (former Haier
Electronics)

ESG Report of the Year (Technology)
Award

Lenovo Group Limited (992.HK)