Scope and objective

Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) has been commissioned by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) to conduct an independent verification of its Sustainability Report 2017/18 (the Report).  This is AAHK’s sixth annual sustainability report, covering the fiscal year 2017/18 ended 31 March 2018. The Report provides a comprehensive account of AAHK’s management approach and performance towards sustainability in 2017/18 as well as a summary of its future plans and targets for key areas of sustainability. The report covers AAHK’s core business in Hong Kong over which it has direct management control.

The aim of this verification is to provide a reasonable assurance of the information stated in the Report based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting principles for defining report content and report quality. The Report is prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core Option and the GRI G4 Airport Operators Sector Disclosures.

Methodology

The verification process was undertaken with reference to:

  • International Standard on Assurance Engagement (ISAE) 3000 (Revised) – “Assurance Engagement Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information” issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board
  • GRI Standards and the GRI G4 Airport Operators Sector Disclosures

The process included reviewing the internal data collection and management mechanism, interviewing responsible personnel with accountability for preparing the Report, and examining the raw data and supporting evidence of representative samples of data and information selected for verification based on a risk-based approach.

Independence

HKQAA was not involved in collecting and calculating data, or in the development of the Report. HKQAA’s activities are independent from AAHK. There is no relationship between AAHK and HKQAA beyond the contractual agreement for providing the verification service.

Conclusion

The verification results confirmed that the Report has been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core Option and the GRI G4 Airport Operators Sector Disclosures.

The information stated in the Report provides a structured, balanced and reliable disclosure of AAHK’s sustainability performance within the reporting period. The GRI reporting principles of stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainability context, materiality and completeness have been well adhered to. Besides, the Report demonstrates the quality of accuracy, timeliness, comparability, clarity and reliability.

AAHK has continuously enhanced its stakeholder engagement and materiality assessment processes. The formulation of the Report based on the reinforced processes that enables AAHK to keep on communicating with its stakeholders openly and responsively.

Signed on behalf of Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency

 

Connie Sham
Head of Audit

November 2018