OREANDA-NEWS. April 27, 2011. Power Assets Holdings Ltd. (Power Assets) was presented with the Total Caring Award in recognition of its commitment to and performance in corporate social responsibility (CSR). The company has been selected out of more than 2,200 enterprises taking part in the award scheme this year, reported the press-centre of HK Electric.

Presented by the Hong Kong Council of Social Services (HKCSS) under the Caring Company Scheme, the award is aimed at recognising model corporate citizens that demonstrate continual and all-round commitment to caring for the well-being of the community, its employees as well as the environment. Winner of the award must achieve excellence in these dimensions and is selected by a special adjudication panel.

Power Assets’ Director of Operations, Mr. Yuen Sui-see, who received the award from the Acting Financial Secretary Professor K.C. Chan at the Caring Company NGO Partnership Day said: “We are most delighted to receive this award especially as it comes soon after our company’s name change in February. It is really a timely encouragement for all of us.”

“We place great emphasis on running our businesses in a socially responsible manner and have set up a CSR Committee to formulate related strategies and policies to help build up its total caring culture and enhance employees’ awareness of CSR,” Mr. Yuen noted.

The core values of Power Assets, which include “Pursuit of Excellence”, “Integrity”, “Respect and Trust” as well as “Caring”, are reflected in the company’s day-to-day operations.

In Hong Kong, the company is committed to providing a world-class electricity supply through its subsidiary, HK Electric, while at the same time caring for the needs of the under-privileged through special services, such as concessionary tariff schemes, an SMS enquiry service for hearing-impaired customers and large-font electricity bills for the elderly, etc.

The company is also keen to encourage employees to participate in voluntary services, including monthly electrical inspections for the single elderly. A special programme, “CAREnival for the Elderly”, has been organised to encourage the single elderly to reach out to their community, while the U3A network jointly run with the HKCSS encourages lifelong learning and volunteerism among local retirees.

Power Assets strives to ensure the well-being of employees through regular dialogues, diversified training and employee care programmes, as well as providing equal opportunities and a safer and healthier workplace for its staff. Internal awards are presented to outstanding staff members who are also encouraged to take part in external competitions for continuous improvements.

The company is equally committed to protecting the environment through emission reduction measures in power generation and the wider use of renewable energy (RE) and cleaner fuels. The annual Smart Power Campaign promotes energy efficiency to the young while the Clean Energy Fund encourages the study and application of RE in school campuses. The company is also supportive of green activities organised by local environmental groups.

Mr. Yuen said, “To excel in CSR, companies must first succeed in business, taking into account important factors such as occupational health and safety, and care for the environment, etc.”

“We therefore need to keep abreast of and strive to meet stakeholders’ expectations as this is also the key for enterprises to achieve sustainable development,” he stressed.

At the ceremony, the company was also awarded the “Five Year Plus” Caring Company Logo for its outstanding performance in good corporate citizenship for the 9th year in a row since the award scheme was launched in 2002.

For this year’s Caring Company Award, Power Assets received nominations from 12 NGOs, including the Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod, Helping Hand, Aberdeen Kaifong Welfare Association Social Service Centre, Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) Charity Limited, the Conservancy Association, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Hong Kong Society for the Aged, Christian Action, Young Men’s Christian Association of Hong Kong, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, St. James’ Settlement and Green Power.