chapter bulletinfailings of really useless leaders. in the afternoon workshop, peter andrew from...

Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA國際物業設施管理協會香港分會

Chapter BulletinSeptember, 2005

PRESIDENTS VIEW

In August, the “Early Bird” flier for the Chapter’s annual conference was issued to our mailing list. The theme for this year’s conference is “Transform : Change is the only constant”.

One of my personal goals this year as President is to deliver events to provide facility managers with something a little bit extra, something aside from the standard technical seminars and visits we have previously offered. Whilst these events are invaluable and core to what we do, they do not always enable FM- ers to distinguish themselves. The conference and workshops we have lined up in November aim to change this.

We are surrounded by change in the companies we work for, or who we offer FM services to. Yet how well prepared is the FM to deal with this? Leading local and international speakers, experienced in leading and managing change, have been assembled to help prepare you for the changes and uncertainties that lie ahead both from an FM and general perspective.

To add greater value to the conference event, we have also arranged two half day seminars which will be worth attending in their own right.

Our conference brochure will be landing on your desks shortly but the date for your diary is Wednesday 2nd November, with two half day workshops to be held on the following day, Thursday 3rd November.

Both the conference and the workshops will be held at Hong Kong Cyberport.

The conference is bound to be popular and I would draw your attention to the fact that the early bird registration willend in early October, so be sure to register this month to secure your seat, together with the attractive discounts.

On the subject of conferences, I will be making the long haul over to Philadelphia next month to attend World Workplace. This exciting event will also be celebrating IFMA’s 25th anniversary and is sure to be the global FM event of the year.

In this column last month, I reported on the Board’s Vision and Mission Statements and the outcome of the Membership Survey. One of our Goals is to provide effective networking opportunities to all FM stakeholders and the Membership Survey also revealed some desire for the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA to work closer with the other local FM institutions.



PRESIDENTS VIEW continuedIn pursuit of this Goal, I met with the current President of theHong Kong Institute of Facility Management, the Chairman of the Property and Facility Management Committee of the HKIS and the Chairman of the RICS, to talk about our Goals and Objectives and the intention of greater collaboration across the FM stakeholders. All parties warmly welcomed this initiative and the Professional Liaison Committee of the Hong Kong Chapter is now working out an action plan to take this forward.

This is positive news and I think represents the beginning of the future for the FM professional bodies in Hong Kong.Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Chapter a Happy Birthday. The Chapter was chartered on September 14th, 1992.

The photo opposite was taken at the Chapter's formation and shows Larry Black, Oscar Chan, Lindsay Colwill, Tony Toy, Thomas Kwok, Niels Kraunsoe, Ken Leong, Arthur Leung, Donald Li, Philip Lo, Low Hon-Wah, Malcolm McGraw, Ng Fung-Fai, David Rees, Leslie Soltay, David Stewart, Robert Thorsenn & Chris van den Berg from the Hong Kong Chapter and Dennis Longworth and Donald Young from IFMA Headquarters

Brian Crockford, Vice [email protected]



PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTChapter Networking LunchRADON GAS EMISSIONS & INTERNAL AIR QUALITYDr Samuel C T Yu, Safety and Environmental Protection Office, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The world is a dangerous place, even the air we breath may not be good for us.

Headlines such as “Radon causes up to 15% of lung cancers worldwide”(WHO), or "The U.S. Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, Issues New National Health Advisory on Radon" give significant cause for concern, but conflicting headlines

such as "Radon Cancer Fears Dismissed”(BBC) give rise to confusion. In twenty minutes Dr Yu will attempt to unravel the health matters related to IAQ, explain the issues behind these headlines and tell you how to make your buildings less dangerous for yourself and the people you, as a facility manager, have responsibility for. If you liveand work, or have responsibility for people who live and work in concrete buildings, you should attend this briefing.

Dr Samuel Yu obtained his Doctor in Environmental Science and Engineering degree from UCLA. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, and a Registered Safety Officer by the HK Labour Department. Dr Yu joined the Safety and Environmental Protection Office (SEPO) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 1994. His main duties include laboratory and research safety; new facility and research proposal safety review; and environment, health and safety issues of emerging fields, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology

No one knows for sure what the next major change will bring for the FM industry, or where new opportunities will lie. We do knowwith certainty that change will come and it will affect all aspects of our lives. This landmark conference will help you prepare forchange and the uncertainties that lie ahead. It will place you in a position to embrace change and allow you to remain one step in front of the pack.

Transform is a one-day conference, linked to two half- day intensive workshops. It will focus on current and future changesin the business environment and the Facility Management industry. We have invited facility management speakers from world- class organisations to consider their understanding of the need for change and share with us their views, experiences and best practices. This year our speakers for Transform include:



• Steven Sonsino, Centre for Management Development, London Business School, UK

• Kit Tuveson, Tuveson & Associates, US• Joe Pereira, EC Harris, Hong Kong• Tony Wong, JPMorgan Chase, Hong Kong• Hon. Patrick Lau, SBS, JP, Legislative Council Member,

Hong Kong• Prof. John Gilleard, Head, Department of Building

Services &Engineering, Hong Kong• HW Cheung, Deputy Director, Buildings Department,

Government of Hong Kong SAR• Paul Doherty, Managing Director, General Land

Corporation, USA

Location – Hong Kong, Cyberport

‘Seven Failings’framework was developed during a five-year research project on leadership failure and Steven now uses the framework to help firms develop practical tactics and strategies for recognizing and stamping out the Seven Failings of Really Useless Leaders.

In the afternoon workshop, Peter Andrew from DEGW in Melbourne, Australia, will, through a series of presentations and interactive discussions with industry peers, explore three key elements under the theme of Successfully Implementing New Workplace Environments.

1. Emerging Workplace Trends - Knowledge through socialisation, flexibility through mobilility, the shift to temporally and physically asynchronous work, and the next wave of workplace technologies

2. Managing Workplace Change - Implementing workplace trends in your organisation

3. Measurement - Connecting workplace performance to business performance in a purposeful way

The session will include plenty of discussion between the participants to understand what changes are being implemented or being considered to be implemented in their respective workplaces, how change is being implemented, what issues have been faced, what "big wins" have been achieved, what is being measured now and what

On Thursday 3rd November, 2 intensive half-day workshops will be held at the same venue.In the morning workshop, using a sequence of experiential exercises, Steven Sonsino will explore with participants ‘The Seven Failings of Really Useless Leaders’. Building on the plenary keynote session at the conference, Steven will push participants to try out their existing leadership style and benchmark themselves against the Seven Failings’framework.

Participants will receive direct feedback on how they lead and on how to improve their style and learn exactly how to benefit from the tactics and strategies of inspirational leaders.



participants would like to be measured. Numbers for these master class workshops are limited and places will be allocated on a first come basis.

Conference fliers will be landing on your desks soon. The conference is bound to popular and early bird registration will end in early October, so be sure to register this month to secure your seat, together with the attractive discounts. Alternatively, check our website at www.ifma.org.hk for further information.

Date: 24 September 2005 (SAT)Time: 9:00am - 12:30pmVenue: LT-6, 4/F, Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong

It is apparent that the development of Facility Management in the Mainland will grow at a phenomenal rate in the near future. With the completion of major facilities related to some mega-events in China, the challenges to FM services providers, as well as professional institutions, to better manage these facilities will ever increase.

The events driving these challenges include the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, the planned construction of numerous commercial, retail and residential space in pace with the growth in the economy of China. The Hong Kong Institute of Facility Management (HKIFM) has successfully completed a conference on Strategic FM in China on 25 May 2005 in Shanghai. Feedback from the conference indicated a strong driving force towards a more effective and value for money approach to strategic FM for corporations.

The speakers - Mr. YU Qingxin, Mr. LUI Ricky and Mr. CHAU Billy, aim to share with you their insights on the strategic moves that every corporation should consider. A panel discussion forum will be arranged after the speaking sessions for you to raise and highlight important items of interest related with the main theme.

For those who are interested in performance management, the September 2005 Hong Kong Seminar will undoubtedly provide up-to-date information and insights in this area.

For more information please go the HKFIM website at: http://www.hkifm.org.hk/PSDAS/seminars_invitation_24092005.htmlFor RSVP or further queries, please contact Ms. Eileen Yeung on telephone: 2241-5924 or fax: 2559-9457 or email: [email protected] .



We are pleased to bring you details of an international symposium to be held at Wei Hing Theatre in City University on 7th October 2005.

http://www.aiib.net/files/FengShuiConference.pdf

Scientific Feng Shui and the Built Environment

Organised by the Asian Institute if Intelligent Buildings, the symposium considers Feng Shui and the built environment through a series of nine papers presented during the day long session. The speakers are all notable practitioners of Feng Shui, generally with an architectural background.

The key note speaker is a world renowned researcher and expert on Feng Shui, having published over 20 books on the subject. The symposium is truly international with 6 of the 9 speakers and the keynote speaker coming from various countries, including Australia, Switzerland, Italy.

Scientific Feng Shui is the verification of Feng Shui principlesscientifically or the study of Feng Shui in a logical and scientific manner. The symposium is supported by the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA and should be of interest to many facility managers who wish to seek every opportunity to generate the best environment for their customers.

This year, as part of the 25 years of IFMA celebrations at World Work Place. the Welcome Reception will feature photographs of the past present and future of each of the Chapter that participate.

Your Chapter has been through the archives and come up with a selection of photographs. These have been sent to IFMA USA and will be projected with a montage of photos from all Chapters during the reception.

World Workplace 2005 23/10

Check out the web site at www.worldworkplace.org

Technical Visit Tour Intelligent Building Development in JapanIf you missed our email flyer in late August we repeat the information below about details of a technical tour of intelligent building development in Japan.

Organised again by the Asian Institute of Intelligent Buildings,the tour takes place on the 25th and 28th of September, however by the time you receive this newsletter the deadline for registration of the 2nd September will have already passed. http://www.aiib.net/files/JapanTechnicalVisit.pdf



All of you will have seen the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and probably wondered about the next typhoon that may hit Hong Kong.

Your Chapter has taken a decision to support the victims of the hurricane financially in the same way we did for the victims of the tsunami. It is proposed to make a donation of HK$1,500 to the Red Cross.

In the USA IFMA HQ has taken a number of steps to try to help the situation. They have reconfigured the contingency planning and disaster recovery information on the IFMA Web site to address current needs and to promote future planning; they have set up a special email group that members can join to make requests for aid and to volunteer expertise or resources; they are identifying specific ideas to assist and developing these, such as acting as a clearing house for available office lease space.

NEWS AND VIEWSHurricane Katrina

Managing Disability

This month we bring you another paper written by Santa Raymond. In this paper she discusses the implications and strategies for coping with the UK Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). This came generally into force in 1995 but the section relating to physical features in buildings did not come into force until 2004. This paper was written in 2003 in the run up to implementation.

Next month we will bring you an article covering similar legislation in Hong Kong, and dealing with the differences between the requirements in the two countries.

DDA : CREATIVE INCLUSIVITYSanta Raymond RIBA

“Be creative, and analyse how you can make the environment useable by as many different people as possible”. Access consultant Neil Tarrell - a wheelchair user himself - reminds us that only 5% of those with physical or mental disabilities are in wheelchairs. He suggests that FMs use DDA legislation as an opportunity to get things right, and develop solutions which are not just about accessibility, but about the everyday enjoyment of places by all users.

At a recent seminar organised by Workplacelaw, another wheelchair user, Bert Massie - Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission – advised: “Do things now, before contractors get run off their feet, and it all costs twice as much!” With DDA coming into force in less than a year, measures require to be put in place fast, but how best to go about it? How can FMs do the right thing without breaking the bank? The word ‘reasonable’appears throughout the documentation, but what this means in reality has yet to be clearly defined. However, from an FM viewpoint, implementing reasonable measures would seem to be a sensible place to start.



It is ‘reasonable’to make your property not just useable by those in wheelchairs, but comfortable for all those with other less visible disabilities. “Management is 85% of what needs to be done”, Professor Keith Bright of the Department of Inclusive Environments as the University of Reading reminded us. “Facilities are useless if people don’t know they exist or they are not properly maintained”. Intelligent management before, during and after, can make an apparently impossible situation function ‘reasonably’.

A good example of this is a Canadian firm that employed an IT specialist with back problems. He could get to work all right, but he was unable to sit in front of a screen. The facilities people arranged for the computer screen to be set in his workstation facing down. Lying on a special trolley underneath, looking up at the screen, and rolling the mouse on his chest, he was able to function perfectly adequately.

Compliance is not just about being sued or fined, but as much about caring for staff. With the attraction and retention of talented people being critical to business success, accommodating those who do not quite fit the mould of being ‘normal’becomes not just illegal, but unwise in business terms, and unkind in human ones. Major physical elements concerning ramps, lifts, toilets and doorways are only part of the picture. Catering for those with sight or hearing impairment, and those with even less obvious difficulties, demands a truly holistic approach to problem solving.

Leaving legislation aside, it’s all about serving customers, and with its focus on customer service, retail has much to teach other sectors. McDonalds is cited as the most accessible chain in the world, and supermarkets generally are leading the way. Sainsburys, where a board director is part of the DDA team, has clear signage and lighting in its stores, with different sorts of special trolleys, motorised wheelchairs, induction loops, a website with home deliveries, and staff training which includes providing a personal shopper if required.

Which goes back to management. The law upholds the right of disabled people to be independent. Getting help with the shopping doesn’t give quite that, but it may be the best solution available in that situation. This pragmatic approach would seem the most practical for FMs to take, whenever possible. It’s not just a question of what can we do to comply, but what makes sense in practical, human and resource terms.

Not having the money to implement measures is no excuse for not doing them, but according to solicitor Clive Read talking at the conference, the act is not designed to put people out of business. He told of a student in a wheelchair who was not offered a place at a college because the classroom was on an upper floor without a lift. The college was fined and required to accommodation the student.



However, a small local shop with several steps was another example. Here, a ramp was simply not possible, so the solution was a bell outside – at a suitable level – plus a canopy to keep off the rain.

Clive Read recommends a rigorous ‘paper trail’so that processes, and measures that have been taken, are clearly provable. FMs must arrange access audits without delay, and these should cover general usability as well as access. Concurrently, questionnaires should be circulated throughout the organisation asking staff to list special requirements. With ‘disability’under the act including those with many different conditions, such requirements as a rest room for staff recovering from cancer treatment could well become mandatory. Confidentiality may be an issue, so a new relationship with HR will be required.

Training is another essential element of customer service in this context. A DDA manager would be responsible for the implications of the legislation, with specialised training covering aspects from reception through to helping disabled people express their needs. Egress in case of fire will take on an even higher profile, with a PEES (personal emergency egress plan) being required for each individual. With one in seven people having hearing problems, egress in case of fire for them needs special consideration. What happens to the deaf person who is in the toilet when the alarm goes off, and their personal ‘friend’thinks they have already left the building?

With leased property, the responsibility to comply will depend on the lease. If the landlord carries out the works, the cost of these may well be added to the charges. If the tenant carries out the works, the situation on reinstatement at the end of the lease requires careful negotiation. In either case, the quicker the situation is resolved, the better for all parties.

An intelligent approach is not just about complying with legislation, but also about improving the environment for everyone. Places designed to provide messages to all the senses, enable those with a loss in one area, to use the other senses to compensate. Thus, textured flooring, handrails with special profiles, colour and lighting can all help greatly. Tonal contrast is central to this, especially related to junction between different plains. ICI have brought out a useful tool to enable providers to ascertain the level of contrast between different paint colours in its Dulux range. Signage has always been critical for way-finding, but it is worth noting that using lower as well as upper case lettering improves legibility for those with learning difficulties or for whom English is a second language, as well as those with reduced sight. In reply to the question; “Which building is most accessible?”generally the answer was: “Good in parts”. The ramp was fine for wheelchair users, but the steps were too shallow for older people with perambulatory problems. Likewise, at the George V Hotel in Paris there is an excellent lift, but so hidden away that the concierge had forgotten about it,



and though there are good bedrooms and bathrooms, there are not enough of them. One of the few buildings cited as deserving star rating, was the Guggenheim Museum in Bilboa. It has all the usual facilities, but also such things asexhibits that are angled toward those with a lower height eye- level, and staff available to describe painting to blind visitors.

Like Ghery, other discerning designers are using the Disability Discrimination Act to power caring design. These requirements are taken into the bloodstream, so that they become just other criteria to generate solutions. Designing proper access and manoeuvrability is no different to providing decent air and light. For FMs, this is the perfect opportunity to take on a strong strategic role.

The Board will be concerned not only for legal and financial reasons, but also for public relations ones. Bright talent wants a caring company, customers want a firm that delivers, and the Board wants a squeaky clean image. Facilities Managers can ensure that the right thing is done in the right way at the right time, so that the culture and brand of the organisation are reflected in the excellence of its facilities.

You can use the demands of DDA to move into a position within your company where you can really make a difference.

Proportion of those with different permanent disabilities in the UK 2003:

Wheelchair users 600,000Reading difficulties 2.5 – 6 millionVisually impaired 2.5 – 3 millionDeaf or hard of hearing 8.5 millionMental illness 15 + millionArthritis – those over 55 1 in 3Learning disability 1.5 million

Department for Inclusive Environments, University of Reading

Design manager and workplace specialist, Santa Raymond is a member of the FMGuru Network, a unique consultancy team offering advice, support and inspiration to individuals and organisations alike. [email protected]

Niall Tarrell of Access Unlimited: [email protected]

National Register of Access Consultants: www.nrac.org.uk

DRC Helpline: 08457 622 633. www.drc-gb.org

Colour & Contrast CD from Dulux: [email protected]

Workplacelaw Network: www. workplacelaw.net



REVIEWS & PUBLICATIONSBreakfast Meeting, Nong Ping 360Following breakfast at the American Club on 4th August 2005, Ken Chapman, the CEO and Managing Director of Skyrail- ITM Group of Companies gave a talk on this subject. Ken firstly introduced the concept behind Skyrail with a discussion of the Skyrail Forest Cableway at Cairns in Queensland, Australia. This facility has been operating for 10 years and is recognised as world leader in sustainable eco- tourism. It provides visitors with a unique experience of World Heritage listed tropical rainforest without degradation to the environment, during both construction and operation.

At Nong Ping the facility is being constructed of two elements - the Skyrail and the village. The cableway is the biggest in Asia at 5.7 km long. It has 8 towers supporting a continuous circulating bi-cable aerial ropeway that in turn supports 112 cabins, each with a capacity to hold 17 people (12 seated).

The ropeway is in two sections. The first section runs from the center of population at Tung Chung, close to the MTR station, to a point on Chek Lap Kok where a line of sight to the final destination is available. Travel directly from Tung Chung is not possible due to the tall buildings in the vicinity.This first section is essentially a feeder for the main ropeway and although a minor run does allow the Skyrail experience to start from Tung Chung.

At Chek Lap Kok the cabins are transferred to the second longer section, which travels through a sweeping curve up to Nong Ping. The motors for both sections are located in the transfer station at Chek Lap Kok. The overall journey takes around 20 -25 minutes.

During the construction great care was taken to restrict the environment impact, even to the extent of using mule trains to transport materials. Helicopters were also used to totally avoidthe need for normal construction traffic in the sensitive North Lantau Country Park.

Developed and financed by MTR Corporation under a 30-year build- operate- transfer franchise from the HKSAR Government, the project was initially conceived as a means of transport to take tourists to the existing facilities at Nong Ping -the Tian Tan Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery.



Skyrail-ITM brought a unique perspective to the project, based on their experience at Cairns, and introduced the idea of the cultural themed village, which is the second element of the overall facility.

This occupies 11/2 hectares and has been specifically designed to reflect and maintain the cultural spiritual integrity of the Nong Ping area. Whilst shopping and dining experiences are included, the main attractions will be the "Walking with Buddha" experience - a multimedia explanation of the life of Buddha, a light hearted multimedia introduction to the Monkey's Tale parable and the Nong Ping Tea House -providing an introduction to the Chinese tea ceremonies.

Construction of the project is still on- going so much of the discussion centred on the construction process. When the project is operational we will try to organise a site visit to understand the management of the facility.

As no one has correctly identified the photo from last months quiz, we are holding this over for a second month. Can you identify the shopping center that houses this stairway.

The first reply that (most) correctly names the building will receive a prize. This will be a voucher to the value of HK$100, which can be used towards any of the Chapter's events.

Only answers by e-mail to [email protected] will be considered. No members of the HK- IFMA Board of Directors or HK- IFMA Committee Members are eligible to enter the competition. This competition will close on 30th September 2005.

PHOTO QUIZ

chapter bulletinfailings of really useless leaders. in the afternoon workshop, peter andrew from...

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