#35 2014 INTERNAT IONAL JOURNAL OF THE

Cities of the Future 16 Cities of the Future 09 Be Prepared: Hutch’s Training Regimen 14 Telepresence: Face to Face 22 Think Big: Liwan Gas Fields Download Sphere online 26 Easing the Final Parting

#35 2014 INTERNAT IONAL JOURNAL OF THE In creating the future, there are doers and thinkers. HWL needs them all. This issue looks at how the future-building happens through exploring, training and answering the needs of our partner communities we serve — style.

CITIES OF THE FUTURE 16 Cities of the Future 09 Be Prepared: Hutch’s Training Regimen 14 Telepresence: Face to Face 22 Think Big: Liwan Gas Fields Download Sphere online 26 Easing the Final Parting

Sphere Magazine #35 June 2014 WELCOME

Cover Illustration James Yang Taking care of The cover displays the visionary creators of HWL standing tall in the midst of their communities, planning with one eye on the future and the other on the future community needs, represented here by conventional buildings. Serving the needs of humanity means Whampoa Property’s Lots Road Engaging and colourful, you see both serving them in the present and Chelsea Waterfront project, believes blue ocean strategies and the clear blue sky optimism lending anticipating future desires. HWL’s long this, and so incorporated all the major to the success of HWL’s 260,000 history and endurance has been made elements of sustainable urbiculture staff around the world. possible by responding to the aspirations into this landmark development rising of citizens and communities in 52 countries on the London riverside. Our work around the world. This issue of Sphere will in cities, from New Zealand waste tell you how. collection to ’s nascent smart grid development, answers the Technology plays a part. Whether modern needs of modern citizens. deployed in the office or on the Pacific seabed, technology enables HWL and Targeted training across the Group plays an its customers to achieve an increasingly important role. We must all train, train, and common desire – to live more in train again to be ready for any eventuality. accordance with nature. The roll-out of Read in this issue about how HWL’s Telepresence technology reduces our training regimens enable us to protect our carbon footprint and makes executives clients from the impact of unexpected more efficient. At the bottom of the sea, disaster and deliver on opportunities to Husky Energy’s Liwan Gas Project is answer their needs. extracting an energy source that burns cleaner to make our cities more liveable. With a service mindset and an eye on the future, HWL will continue to play an This is important, because cities are important role in helping our customers where the future lies for the vast achieve their goals and build happier majority of humanity. Architect Sir futures for themselves, their families Terry Farrell, designer of the Hutchison and their communities.

Published by Hutchison HWL In-house Editor Designed and Whampoa Limited Editorial Team Andrew Work Produced by 22/F Hutchison House Laura Cheung Writers Magazine 10 Harcourt Road Jeremy Lau Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine Calvin Lam Central Hong Kong Hans Leung Cassy Chau Tel: +852-2850 5500 may be reproduced without written permission Erica Liu of Hutchison Whampoa Limited. Opinions Available on Printing Publisher www.hutchison- Wendy Luk Greg Crandall expressed herein are those of the writers and do Ada Chan bigboXX.com Limited not necessarily reflect the opinion of Hutchison whampoa.com Creative Team Whampoa Limited. All currency conversions Feedback & Enquiries Pierre Pang are approximations. [email protected] Mike Hung Cecilla Cheng ©2014 by Hutchison Whampoa Limited Blackie Hui Illustrations James Yang Production Team Sun Leung Sharon Cheung Kelly Cheung

01 CONTENTS

04 14 22

News Bites Technology focus enterprise focus

Ports and Related Services Telepresence: Face to Face Think Big: Liwan Gas Fields Property and Hotels HWL’s state-of-the-art Telepresence Husky Energy’s mega-project in the Retail system is bringing people together, South China Sea is securing a green Telecommunications lowering costs and saving the planet. energy source for decades to come. Infrastructure Your office may be next! Energy And more ...

09

management feature

21

BE PREPARED Views When opportunity or disaster strikes, only the prepared can Hong Kong’s future energy seize the day – or turn back the options pit clean vs coal, certain tide. Hutchison’s firms explain vs questionable. Mr Canning Fok how they sharpen the swords makes the case for local generation. and feed the horses.

Sphere #35 2014 02 16 26 COVER STORY PHILANTHROPY FOCUS

Easing the Final Parting Not all face our common end with the same support. The Li Ka Shing Foundation is bringing dignity and comfort to those suffering in Hong Kong.

Cities of the Future As humanity urbanises, its demands on those who build, power, and clean our cities are becoming more complex. Discover how HWL is answering the needs of citizens, communities and governments around the world.

03 Sphere #35 2014 NEWS

(Back, from left) Mr Victor Li, Deputy Chairman of HWL; Mr Siew Wah Fock, Member of the Temasek Advisory Panel; Mr Li Ka-shing, Chairman of HWL; Mr David Heng, Co-Head, Markets Group, Temasek International Pte Ltd. (Front, from left) Mr Dominic Lai, Group Managing Director, A S Watson Group; Mr Song Hwee Chia, Head of Investment Group, Temasek International Pte Ltd; Mr Canning Fok, Group Managing Director of HWL.

CORPORATE RETAIL Embracing Customer 360 HWL and Temasek partnership In March, ASW hosted its biennial HWL has formed a strategic alliance with Temasek. The Singapore investment Global Suppliers Conference and Awards company has taken an indirect equity interest of 24.95 per cent in A S Watson 2014 in Hong Kong. With the theme Embracing Customer 360, the event Holdings for HKD44 billion. Following the completion of the transaction on 16 April attracted over 100 senior executives from 2014, HWL distributed a special dividend of HKD7 per share to its shareholders. the world’s largest health and beauty The transaction allows HWL to partially unlock the value of A S Watson (ASW) as consumer product manufacturers, who well as set an important valuation benchmark for the Group’s remaining interests. discussed how to win the hearts and minds of customers. ASW has grown internationally in the past two decades with more than 10,500 stores worldwide. Together with its strategic partner Temasek, HWL will further maximise the value and future growth potential of ASW.

Happy 50th Anniversary!

Year 2014 is a golden year for as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. To mark this milestone, customers enjoy limited edition products from various brands across the UK. Special TV ad celebrates the birthday. In-store activities and a national bus tour are underway to break a Guinness World Record by asking Britons to sign a giant birthday card.

Sphere #35 2014 04 PORTS

New Cranes

In order to enhance Hong Kong’s capability in handling barges from the Pearl River Delta, Hongkong International Terminals put into operation two new barge quay cranes in March. The new cranes are the first of their kind in Southern China and they have greater handling stability compared to traditional jib cranes.

PROPERTY Mayor gives Convoys Wharf a GO!

Mayor of London, Mr Boris Johnson, has approved Hutchison Whampoa Property’s redevelopment of the 40-acre Convoys Wharf in Deptford. The redevelopment will create 3,500 new homes on a site that has been derelict for 14 years. A community hub, integrating a new primary school, shops, restaurants and a new riverside jetty park will also be built. The Group is delighted by the news and that the huge world-class development will support over 2,000 new jobs.

TELECOMs

3 Ireland, going free

From 27 January to 31 July, 3 Ireland will offer free 4G services to their Bill Pay and Prepay customers. With over 60 per cent coverage in the cities of Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and 40 per cent in Dublin and Cork, 3 Ireland is expecting their total population coverage to grow with this free service.

CHAMPION TRI UNROLLS 3030 OTHERS SHOW ACROSS INDONESIA

ESDlife’s Wedding Hutchison 3 Indonesia (H3I), known locally Union Annual Party as ‘Tri’, has been awarded “The Champion of WOW Service Excellence Award” from Voted the number one wedding service MarkPlus Insight, based on customer portal in Hong Kong, ESDlife hosted a satisfaction surveys of mobile internet Wedding Union annual party in January users of product, user experience and to celebrate the second anniversary of the customer care. Continuing their champion social platform. Wedding Union enables ways, they are celebrating across 31 cities information sharing for those planning with their 3030 Show. This technological the ‘big day’, and ‘alumni’ of the site spectacular showcases H3I’s internet share their experiences and wisdom with services and innovative ecosystem through newlyweds-to-be. high-tech dance art and theatrical comedy.

05 Sphere #35 2014 NEWS

INFRASTRUCTURE New member on the list

HK Electric Investments (HKEI) was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and commenced trading on 29 January 2014. HKEI Chairman, Mr Canning Fok, said he is confident of the company’s long-term prospects and believes HKEI is a good stock with a return of more than seven per cent.

PORTS

New Partners

On 13 March, Hutchison Ports Holdings Trust entered into strategic partnerships with COSCO Pacific Ltd and China Shipping Terminal Development (Hong Kong) Company Ltd. Each invested 40 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, of effective equity and loan interests in Asia Container Terminal Holdings Ltd and its group CORPORATE companies, for an aggregate consideration of HWL’s Euro USD319 million. Caring, as always! Perpetual bond. Green cranes Forty companies of the HWL Group have been selected to receive the The awards go to ... Caring Company award, a programme Buenos Aires Container Terminal SA in Hong Kong that recognises a firm’s Hutchison Whampoa’s EUR1.75 (BACTSSA) received two hybrid rubber- commitment to the community, tyred gantry cranes, making it the first billion perpetual subordinated capital employees and the environment. HWL company in South America to purchase security was selected as the Best Deal, has achieved this designation 10 years hybrid yard equipment. The two new in a row, and qualifies as a ‘10 years+ Hong Kong, and the Best Bond in Asia cranes have a lifting capacity of 40.6 Caring Company’. Congratulations! in The Asset’s Triple A Awards. HWL tonnes, are environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient, reducing fuel consumption has been a leader in these awards by 60 per cent. since they started.

Sphere #35 2014 06 RETAIL

Happiness Relay

In China, land of its birth, marked its 25th anniversary with a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign to raise funds for the NGO Sowers Action to provide educational support for impoverished children in China.

Staff from Watsons China visited students at Sowers Primary School in Yunnan and led a series of interactive activities themed “Positive Energy”. Plenty of learning supplies and warm clothing were also donated to give students a winter full of RETAIL warmth and love. Congratulations, A S Watson Group! At the end of 2013, the group’s flagship retail brand Watsons opened its 4,000th store. From the first Canton Dispensary in 1828, A S Watson (ASW) has now spread across 25 Asian and European markets. Operating revenue topped USD19 billion in 2013. With three outlets opening every day, the group is currently the fastest-growing health and beauty retailer in Asia and Europe. ASW is expected to hit 13,000 outlets in 2015.

OTHERS

Compass Visa WINS six awards in 2013

Compass Visa, a rewards programme associated with consumers’ Visa credit cards, won four awards in the 2013 Mobile Excellence Awards, including a Gold medal for Best App – Creative Design, and three Bronze medals for Best mCommerce Solution, Best CRM and Loyalty Programme, and Best Viral Marketing.

INFRASTRUCTURE Added to the Bronze award for Excellence in CKI expands its materials Grand slam awards Use of Apps presented business in China by Marketing Magazine’s Northumbrian Water, a water company Marketing Excellence Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI) in the UK, won a brace of awards last Awards 2013, and Hong further extended its portfolio in Mainland December at the Utility Week Achievement Kong’s White Collar’s China through the full operation of a Awards. Its five awards included: Utility of Most Favourite Credit new flagship cement plant in Yunfu, the Year, Community Initiative of the Year, Card Brand Award Guangdong Province. Green Island Environment Award, Marketing Initiative of 2013, Compass Visa has Cement, a subsidiary of CKI, occupies 700 the Year, and Supply Chain Excellence. achieved no fewer than acres of land and produces 4,500 tonnes six awards recognising of cement per day. CKI is now planning its outstanding efforts in to invest over USD76 million in a second consumer marketing in production line to expand its market share. Hong Kong in 2013.

07 Sphere #35 2014 ENERGY NEWS Deepwater Triumph Husky Energy and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Limited have together staged an engineering marvel in the Liwan Gas Project, the first deepwater development in China. This March, the USD6.5 billion project commenced its first production in the South China Sea. Initial natural gas sales are expected to be approximately 250 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/day) gross, increasing to approximately 300 mmcf/day in the second half of 2014. Initial sales of CORPORATE condensates and natural gas liquids from the Liwan 3-1 gas field are expected to be HWL Volunteer Team’s approximately 10,000–14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day gross. (See p22 for 10th anniversary the full story.)

A party to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the HWL Volunteer Team in February saw volunteers, group coordinators and NGOs share the joy. Charity organisation Yan Oi Tong was one of the community groups that came to enjoy a celebratory feast, lucky draw and amazing performances.

Others

GAMECO’s Phase II in action

Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co (GAMECO) opened its Phase II hangar last December. This was just in time to catch the busiest period in the company’s 25 years of business – this year’s spring holidays in China. The new hangar alone serviced six aircraft over the holidays, and in total, 12 production lines and one A380 wing modification line were housed by GAMECO’s two hangars.

PROPERTY

Shanghai Regency Garden blooms!

The grand launch event of Shanghai Regency Garden in late March attracted unprecedented attention and Shanghai’s glitterati came out en masse, resulting in record sales. The property project consists of a residential compound of approximately 334,000 square metres, 5,000 square metres of commercial facilities and a kindergarten.

Sphere #35 2014 08 Management Feature >>

excellence Be prepared: Hutch’s Training Regimen

09 Sphere #35 2014 >> Be Prepared

harpening one’s wits, than twice the atmospheric pressure. developers to ensure the simulator exactly knowledge and experience replicates the Upgrader’s systems. is vital to be ready when It creates these conditions at the the time for action comes. Lloydminster Heavy Oil Upgrader to Experienced operators and management SHutchison Whampoa transform viscous, thick, black, heavy oil regularly use the simulators for emergency takes training very seriously. A and, using that massive heat and pressure, response training exercises. Mr Miles successful group must be able to to upgrade it to the clear, free-flowing Berry, Operations Superintendent at seize opportunity when it presents oil and diesel that the world runs on. the Upgrader, oversees the training and itself, blunt the effects of disaster and Converting the heavy oil demands the retraining of operators. A 34-year Husky execute top-notch performance every highest standards of equipment, safety, veteran, Miles knows what it takes to keep day. This does not happen by accident, knowledge, training and vigilance. the facility producing efficiently and safely. but only through relentless training of its employees. Control room operators at Husky Energy’s “Training new control room operators to Upgrader are like pilots who spend hours in use the simulators ensures new operators Such training is a group-wide phenomenon. flight simulators before taking the controls of are thoroughly and consistently trained. It enables planes to stay in the air where real aircraft. Before assuming responsibility On the simulator, operators will face every they belong, thousands of containers for piloting the controls of the Upgrader, possible shutdown, start-up, and upset to criss-cross the globe, valuable oil to Husky Energy’s operators spend hours condition that could occur in the Upgrader be made from raw muck, and staff and training on all aspects of the facility on state- before they ever take control of the plant,” customers to be kept safe. From Canada’s of-the-art simulators. Miles said. frozen north to the violent typhoons of The Philippines, Hutchison staff are ready for Husky Energy has been using simulators Sometimes this means moving quickly and whatever the world can throw at them. since the Upgrader was constructed in efficiently through planned maintenance. 1992 and, like the Upgrader itself, the “When we have a turnaround or scheduled Under pressure simulator system has steadily improved. maintenance that can involve shutting Extreme conditions that HWL team The current simulators give operators and down major areas or even the entire members face are often external. Some trainees a realistic picture of the Upgrader plant, we can practise every aspect on the are generated internally. Husky Energy controls. Every possible scenario and simulators before we go into the actual Inc’s team in Lloydminster, Canada emergency that can happen in the facility project,” according to Miles. deliberately works with otherworldly can be programmed into the simulations. extremes that can be deadly if While dangerous situations may happen Sometimes it means averting disaster. mishandled. Temperatures of up to once, or even never, over the lifetime of “Recently, a newly trained operator had 427oC and pressures of up to 20,000kPa the Upgrader, simulators ensure operators a compressor shutdown show up on his are used daily, creating an environment are ready for any eventuality. Husky panel. From his training, he knew exactly as hot as the surface of Venus with more Energy works with the simulator software what to do and ran through the correct

Sphere #35 2014 10 >>

procedure for taking the compressor offline most, Japan’s connectivity to the world was handful of contingency plans for different and rerouting the oil flow.” seriously impaired. cable failure scenarios and the ensuing breakdowns they were anticipating. The Upgrader’s simulation room can train Within four hours, the Hutchison Global up to nine new operators a year, important Communications Limited (HGC) cable On top of contingency planning, the quick in an industry where operators are in service was fully restored. The swift response to the emergency and the short high demand. Husky Energy recently recovery was delivered in the wake of the recovery owe much to HGC’s protocol of added a second, adjacent simulator room worst earthquake in Japanese history. combining regular maintenance with practice at the Upgrader, so both training and Speaking to Sphere, Mr Andrew Kwok, drills which Andrew believes “prepares our retraining can take place at the same President of International and Carrier engineers and facilitates recovery efforts time. Before simulation training, operators Business, recalls that the earthquake among different teams”. These procedures were trained by observing co-workers. struck at around noon. It was not until were developed a few years ago and are “Training a new control room operator dusk that HGC received the full cable practised every one to two months. using conventional training methods failure notifications. Preparation work, could take up to nine months. It also however, had been in full swing before the Disaster control is not limited to limited the trainee operator’s exposure notifications came in. natural phenomena – cataclysm can to both planned and unplanned events,” also be caused by humans. During riots Miles said. Simulators mean more, better Having to restore full service in just a few in Thailand, HGC asked Thai affiliates trained operators, faster. hours meant that prior training was key to to set up cameras to oversee the the HGC team’s effectiveness. One way surrounding environments of cable sites. 3-11: Earth and sea strike to meet a crisis is to meet it prepared, and This would allow both the Thai and Hong The Lloydminster Upgrader generates its HGC had plans in place for different cable Kong staff to react immediately to any own extremes to get the job done. Other failure scenarios. When a certain cable uprisings that might damage property Hutchison units are assaulted by Mother fails, staff are trained to react by making and disrupt service. Nature at unexpected times. The very use of the redundant capacity of other earth shakes, the seas rise and Nature cable systems to take up the traffic of In the world of business where prior cannot be denied. the failed cable. However, multiple cable planning is key, HGC has been successful failures are much more complex than not only in seizing opportunities, but also The 3-11 earthquake in Japan rocked the a single cable breakdown. Most often, by being ready to avoid complete disaster world in 2011, leaving shock and grief in HGC can only prioritise the services for when catastrophe strikes. its wake. The earthquake disrupted four restoration and outline the redundant major systems which relied on submarine resources for remedy beforehand. So, as Natural disasters, cables connecting Asia via Japan to the soon as the earthquake ripped across the MAN-MADE SOLUTIONS United States, South Korea and China. At a Pacific floor, HGC moved immediately to Not to be outdone, The Philippines may be time when it needed communications the deploy its hard-won expertise to devise a one of the most regularly benighted places

11 Sphere #35 2014 >> Be Prepared

on earth. Lying on a major fault line prone to on crisis management policy, evacuation These procedures didn’t arise from earthquakes, they also have a front-row seat to policy and more. Store supervisors brief serendipitous epiphany. They were derived every typhoon coming out of the deep Pacific. their respective staff in stores about from hard-earned lessons that drove what they should do to prepare for an change. Myracris’s team needed to up Recent experience has provided no respite. oncoming crisis. A bulletin board in every their game after the 2009 Manila flooding, The Philippines have been wrecked by store is updated twice a month to provide when training procedures had yet to be severe natural calamities of late. The the frontline staff with the latest details designed. Lost and damaged product Manila flooding last summer, Typhoon concerning emergency contacts and accounting, inventory control for insurance Haiyan and a massive earthquake all evacuation points. Weather alerts and purposes and even employee contact happened last year. Controller of Internal trends are also on the board. With most of procedures were implemented to instil Audit and Loss Prevention for Watsons Watsons’ stores located in malls, Myracris confidence and get to the level of disaster in the Philippines, Ms Myracris Cordova, explains that drills are held by the malls in readiness the team now enjoys. has seen a higher rate of natural disasters March and November every year. hitting the country in recent years, and A radical overhaul in procedures, well- the company reacted by establishing a Prior to Haiyan’s savaging of The Philippines, established training programmes, and programme of training early last year. Watsons set up a Crisis Management diligence in repetitive drilling mean the teams Committee and held conference calls with now know what to do in the event of almost The training is new, developed by the each controller who headed a response any disaster. Having learned from the past, company itself and based on their own team across the nation. The priority was they are well prepared for the future. experience of handling crises. They have the safety of the employees and they were had ample opportunity to put this training told to stay at home if commuting to work HPH’s 27,000 daily to use. “The impact of Haiyan on Watsons was too dangerous. Valuable goods and reasons to train was very, very small,” says Myracris and safes were relocated to higher shelves. A Limited she credits this to their training. Haiyan well-defined system was put in place for the (HPH) plays a key role in the continuing inflicted approximately USD1.5 billion ease of making insurance claims. And as it development of 52 ports around the world of financial loss on the nation, but only turned out, loss of inventory was reduced and and Hong Kong is among the busiest. minimal damage to Watsons. recovery was speedy. For instance, the two In Hong Kong, Hongkong International Watsons stores submerged in the Manila Terminals Limited (HIT) has a staggering High-level managers and store supervisors flooding last August were back in operation daily average of 27,000 container attend a training workshop once a year within one month. movements. To maintain order over this

Sphere #35 2014 12 general safety precaution measures. GAMECO works closely with China Southern Airlines to ensure training << After that, the trainees are given classroom is constantly up to date. When there lectures and/or on-site tutorials once a are purchases of new airplane models, week from month 3 to month 12, with a final GAMECO sends their maintenance examination at the end of the programme. professionals to attend training courses provided by the airplane manufacturers. Fully equipped Bringing the maintenance training The introduction of new technology is experience back home, maintenance a constant in this heavily competitive professionals open in-house training industry. Yard cranes are a vital part of courses in GAMECO. However, opening the machinery mix. At HIT, two types of new ‘type training’ courses on new yard cranes can be commonly found: Rail models needs approval from the Civil Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMGC), powered Aviation Administration of China by electricity, and Rubber Tyred Gantry (CAAC). The authority evaluates the type Cranes (RTGC). RMGCs are giant, highly training courses against the international automated container handling cranes standard developed by the Air Transport with auto-stacking capability. Recently, Association. Once a type training course HIT has introduced crane remote control is approved by CAAC, other aviation technology, allowing the crane operators to organisations in China can adopt the work in an indoor environment and control training. This establishes a uniform yard cranes from their desk to improve standard of maintenance throughout working conditions as well as safety and the country. Other training courses efficiency levels. which require CAAC’s approval are component repair, basic maintenance and To gain authorisation to control the fundamental skills. GAMECO provides RMGCs is a rigorous process. First, an these courses in-house and their staff operator needs to attend an 18-day can only sign off or perform maintenance practical and theoretical training course if they survive these CAAC-approved on RTGC. An RTGC licence will be issued training courses. after the operator has passed a technical assessment. This is followed by two weeks In addition to the CAAC-approved courses, of supervised on-the-job training, where maintenance staff from GAMECO are an experienced operator oversees and required to attend other professional monitors the new operator’s performance. training courses within the GAMECO The operator must have a minimum of six quality system. There are 50 to 70 courses months’ experience operating an RTGC available for staff to take every month in and a good performance record before order to handle higher level maintenance he or she can apply to operate an RMGC. tasks. For example, maintenance staff 24/7 dance of ships, containers, cranes A further eight-day training course is in GAMECO have attended at least 200 and trucks, continuous training is needed required for the candidate, followed by an hours of lessons and 10-day hands- to ensure that everyone knows their steps. examination in order to obtain an RMGC on practical training dedicated to the licence. Operators are expected to work in new Boeing Dreamliner, followed by Within the engineering department of HIT, the remote control centre and they need a various types of engine related training. more than 20 per cent of the staff have good performance record and to undergo GAMECO staff also receive model type worked in the port industry for less than in-depth training covering the workflow information updates in recurring training 18 months. “We have an imminent need and job allocation of the equipment. and retraining activities. On top of the to train more engineers and technicians to training, representatives from airplane deal with regular repair and maintenance Training is designed to ensure safety, manufacturers attend at least two work as well as new port equipment efficiency and speed at the ports, keeping meetings a day with GAMECO to discuss projects,” according to Mr Eric Su, General workers safe and HPH competitive. In the challenges encountered in daily Manager of HIT’s Engineering Department. China, making sure passengers arrive first maintenance operations and the latest The department regularly runs its PEA – alive – and second – on time – falls to the updates on aviation technology. – the Port Engineering Academy. “It is a continuously training team at GAMECO. one-year in-house training programme GAMECO understands that even a tiny aiming at accelerating the learning process Securing China’s friendly skies problem discovered in a flight inspection of the new engineers and technicians,” Mr The National Safety Council in the United can have huge repercussions or even Su explained. States calculates the odds of dying in a result in a fatal accident, and that these car accident to be one in 98 in a lifetime, outcomes have to be avoided at all costs. The training programme was designed compared to one in 7,178 for an aviation Rigorous training ensures that the worst for all new technicians and engineers with accident. You may argue about the figures eventualities won’t happen on their watch. less than two years experience in the ports but the fact is that airplane accidents seldom industry. Led by one of the managers in the happen and meticulous flight maintenance Sharpening the sword, from the ancient engineering department, all PEA trainees is the reason why. Speaking to Sphere, Mr Chinese idiom, doesn’t just refer to your have to attend a three-day classroom Sam Cai, Manager of the Training Centre equipment. It means sharpening your mind. training within the first two months of in Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Across the Group, training, learning and the programme. The main purpose is to Engineering Co Ltd (GAMECO), explained reviewing have made dramatic leaps in teach trainees the basic principles of the that their training programmes are rigorously operations possible, improving efficiency equipment used in HIT terminals and the designed and reviewed. and even saving lives.

13 Sphere #35 2014 technology Focus

Communications Telepresence: Face to Face HWL has rolled out its state–of-the-art Telepresence system around the world. Facilities are booked solid by executives across the globe. Your office may be next!

o real you could reach out the demand for ultra-high-quality and shake hands. Some communications between Hong Kong people even try. Executives save time and working and European colleagues. STraditional video- effort by keeping their feet on the Detail, detail, detail conferencing has not yet surmounted its This new technology shows all participants core challenge – making it feel real. Fans ground and have the experience life-size on the screen and eliminates of free online services will be familiar with that a genuine face-to-face delay in audio and video that can lead to blurry, jerky videos with terrible sound an unreal experience. To provide lively, quality. Conversations seem unreal and meeting delivers. high-quality video-conferences, the feel unsatisfactory. They don’t deliver the Telepresence rooms have been renovated essential and ineffable – the real human to meet standards set by Cisco. connection, the main driver behind key face-to-face meetings. The ‘Star Trek’ “The distances between the screens experience – the Holy Grail of video- and the conference desks are carefully conferencing – seemed to be far off science adjusted. The rooms have integrated fiction. Until now. the ground and have the experience that a lighting which eliminates shadows to genuine face-to-face meeting delivers. produce high-quality, natural-looking Mr David Nicholls, Head of Group video,” said Michael. Information Systems, explained the Of course, it doesn’t hurt that a stroll to the genesis behind the project. “The idea custom-designed Telepresence suites is easy All Telepresence conference rooms for step changing our existing video- on the travel budget and our environmental have soundproofed, identical walls, and conferencing facilities into a true, lifelike footprint compared to international jet travel. some even use the same chairs. This experience came straight from our Group It is estimated that 516 flights have been was a project of some complexity. David Managing Director [Mr Canning Fok] who saved since the new Telepresence system explains, “We quickly realised that this was extremely clear about the levels of was launched in 2012. was not solely a technology project quality that were expected and the priority as it involved major building works locations in the first wave.” HWL, Hutchison Global Communications incorporating important details like room (HGC) and Cisco Systems have teamed furnishing, acoustics, lighting and room Strategic global offices of the Hutchison up to make this service possible, and administration. The first thing we did Whampoa Group now house a HWL IT professionals enable the hosting was bring together a cross-functional cutting-edge video-conference suite of Cisco System’s teleconference and team across the key regions comprising called ‘Telepresence’. Milan, Calgary, telesuite technology. An online booking experts from the Group HR, property Amsterdam, London and Hong Kong all portal launched by HGC is dedicated management and secretarial support to host the wildly popular new technology to providing the concierge services for work alongside our technical partners and service. The reality of the experience this new technology. In Hong Kong, “the and the internal IT team.” is allowing managers to replace time- systems are always fully booked after consuming international travel with a 2pm (HK time),” says Mr Michael Ho, This was not only a challenge for the IT Telepresence session. Executives save time Senior Manager of the Group Information team, but also for HGC, which offers the and working effort by keeping their feet on Services Department, reflecting concierge service for the Group.

Sphere #35 2014 14 >><<

516 flights saved

4,275t CO2 reduction

Ms Jennifer Tan, HGC’s Managing Director, Earlier generation systems also contribute. welcomes enquiries from HWL business units told Sphere, “At first glance, people may Ms Ann-Christin Larsson, Executive considering how the technology can benefit simply think that the concierge service Assistant to 3 Sweden’s CEO, has benefited them. The upfront cost is more than made up acts just like a receptionist, helping callers from the convenience brought by the by the efficiency and environmental gains. put through video calls. But it is more than systems. “Using the HWL concierge Nicholas says it best – “Using Telepresence that. Many video-conferences have to be service to schedule multiple partner simply makes sense.” arranged at short notice and scheduling is meetings is an easy task due to the booking quite challenging work.” portal. For meetings between 3 Sweden and 3 Denmark we have a pre-set, making HGC, At Your Service The cross-functional team completed setting up a meeting as simple as pressing Providing the new concierge the first phase, from room refurbishment three buttons,” she said. service to executives around to hardware installations for Hong Kong the globe is no easy task, but and London, in only three months. For Mr Nicholas Högberg, CEO of 3 Sweden, HGC has a handle on it after other companies, it normally takes says the system not only saves time and one year of operation. Jennifer six to nine months. “Unlike any other money, but also elevates the efficiency of finds the service has benefited project, quality is literally in your face; its business. “With our Telepresence room, the Group as a whole. “We keep it either works amazingly or you are we have increased our productivity. It also running costs down. Instead of hugely disappointed. Of course we were gives us the opportunity to schedule board paying a third party, we provide it delighted to come online and deliver a meetings at short notice without having to ourselves. I believe the payback truly amazing experience. I am told that first check the availability of flights.” period of this will be short, and it we did all this in record time, so everyone will continue to benefit the Group involved should feel extremely proud,” He stressed that Telepresence promotes in terms of travel time and cost David added. one of the HWL Group’s objectives – to be saving.” environmentally friendly. “Our customers Good business, green planet are evaluating us more and more on our Having gained experience within In the old days, executives spent environmental initiatives.” He is a huge its own family, HGC plans to days traveling globally to take part in advocate of the carbon footprint reduction offer the concierge service to meetings and conferences. Even though benefits. The estimated carbon emission outside parties. “We started with teleconferencing existed for some reduction through Telepresence for the the HWL Group, and this was a years, quality varied. The high-quality Group in 2013 was 4,275 tonnes. very good learning experience. Telepresence system has become a The Group has operations in vital communication tool for executives Coming soon, different countries, sophisticated in the HWL Group. Telepresence saves to a theatre near you demand and high expectations of travel time and cost, and maintains “We hope the system will spread among the this service. Being able to serve the benefits of face-to-face meetings. business units, especially our retail business the Group well means that we David said the new technology is in Asia Pacific, whose buyers and suppliers are well-prepared and equipped especially important for those business are scattered around Europe,” said Michael to extend our services to other cases where the distances are long, Ho. In the near future, Michael expects there corporate customers.” interactions are frequent and many will be one or two more locations installing people are involved. the immersive Telepresence systems. He

15 Sphere #35 2014 COVER STORY

Innovation Cities of the Future Sphere #35 2014 16 >>

Some dream of a world where 70 per cent of the global population live in cities. Hutchison Whampoa and its companies are building what Sir Terry Farrell calls the urbiculture.

ir Terry has articulated THE FUTURE THROUGH THE PAST the challenge of the 21st Ironically, heritage preservation is an century as mankind moves increasingly common demand of modern rapidly to put more than communities. This iconic location, home to S70 per cent of humanity one of Britain’s first steel frame structures into urban environments. Just building and the longest serving power station’s roads, ditches and buildings is not when it was decommissioned in 2000, enough anymore. Citizens, communities contains potent symbols of Britain’s and governments now demand heritage industrial past. The Power Station’s preservation, unlimited connectivity, facades and chimneys must be retained, sustainability and integrated living. as mandated by English Heritage, as part of the regeneration of the site. They will Companies serving modern cities are be framed by two glass towers of 37- and expected to adopt sustainable building 25-storeys high designed by Sir Terry. practices, promote ‘green space’ and Hong Kong natives and visitors know his clean air quality, preserve history, work from ‘The Peak’, one of the city’s produce renewable energy, implement most popular attractions. He also designed energy-efficient public transportation the MI6 headquarters, famously blown up and develop well-organised mixed-use in the James Bond film Skyfall. neighbourhoods. Sir Terry and HWPG were also sensitive to Whether supplying electricity, waste requests for affordable housing, to create removal services or housing, companies healthy, socially balanced communities. must be responsive to the needs of their HWPG stepped up and The Lots Road ‘clients’. Local governments and citizens Chelsea Waterfront project will include 275 alike expect more and HWL is meeting affordable homes among its 706 residences. the aspirations of communities around the world. LIFETIME HOMES New government requirements are A CENTURY’s WAIT FOR part of the construction process for THE FUTURE CITY any property developer. Mr Gilbert The broader the project, the more Gehrmann, Chief Project Manager of demands are made. The Chelsea Hutchison Whampoa Properties (Europe) Waterfront is London’s biggest waterfront Limited, notes, “regulations have changed development in over 100 years. Its historic enormously in the past 15 years, from buildings, central location and huge scale building regulations to environmental mean the Hutchison Whampoa Properties standards and community involvement.” Group (HWPG) team has to answer a broad range of community needs to make Regulatory compliance presented an the project happen. opportunity for HWPG to improve the quality of accommodation through the The eight-acre site of the iconic former Lots ‘Lifetime Homes’ design requirements Road Power Station will, when complete, to provide accessible and adaptable deliver 706 new homes in 10 buildings with homes for disabled and elderly people. a master plan designed by world renowned The Lifetime Homes standard is a set of architect Sir Terry Farrell. 16 design criteria that provides a model for building accessible and adaptable The site is challenging and many physical homes for lifetime use. Examples include and technical constraints needed entrance-level living space, making homes to be addressed in the master plan. more easily accessible to the mobility Heritage conservation, requirements impaired and the elderly, with the potential for affordable housing, lifetime homes, to be fitted with electric hoists and lifts. local infrastructure improvements and These measures will enable more disabled community involvement were all taken into and elderly people to live in high-quality consideration. environments best suited to their needs.

17 Sphere #35 2014 >> Cities of the Future

GOING THE EXTRA WATERFRONT MILE 3,500 London homes at Convoys Wharf, 16,000 by the end of 2014. This will Another government requirement Lewisham and offices, stores, a hotel and dramatically expand Wi-Fi connections illustrated by Gilbert is ‘the Section 106 restaurants in Deptford. and change people’s relationship with agreement’. Originally articulated in the technology. UK’s Town and Country Planning Act of The demands of modern communities 1990, Section 106 agreements are legal in the age of global interconnection have The speed will make a difference. Ms requirements for property developers to become remarkably similar as design Jennifer Tan, Managing Director of HGC, provide public infrastructure improvements elements in one area become popular in explained, “Users can enjoy higher speed and community involvement directly linked another. Much of the world shares the Internet access such as 100Mbps to to new developments. Gilbert explains values of modern London and makes the 1Gbps. Users enjoy bandwidth-demanding that this can take numerous forms such same demands. applications such as watching videos and TV as “providing funding to upgrade the programmes with a better user experience.” nearby Chelsea Harbour pier, providing a THE WORLD OF NEUROMANCER new bus service or contributing towards a London’s modern aspirations include The genesis of the decision to increase new train station”. preserving its history. Hong Kong is the distribution of hotspots comes from rushing to embrace a future once only the rapid proliferation of tablets and Breathing new life into an area of Chelsea imagined in science fiction. William smartphones. However, increasing loads that has not been accessible for decades, Gibson singlehandedly launched the on mobile networks mean users are, the scheme will open up 600 metres of cyberpunk literary genre with his seminal by necessity, moving to Wi-Fi. Pyramid Thames waterfront to the community, novel Neuromancer. The novel coined Research, a telecommunications research creating a recreational walkway in an area the term ‘cyberspace’ and described a specialist, believes 22 per cent of mobile inaccessible to the public for over 100 years. world where people were connected to a data traffic will be offloaded to fixed or global information system 24/7. Gibson’s Wi-Fi networks by 2016. Three bridges and two major public piazzas 1984 novel’s world predated the Internet, are incorporated into the comprehensive but doesn’t sound too far from our own Explaining the expansion of Wi-Fi master plan that includes retail, residential connected world now. hotspots, Jennifer said,“Wi-Fi service and work spaces, leading to a sustainable, complements mobile service as users community friendly urbiculture. Hutchison Global Communications (HGC) subscribing to mobile data plans can is bringing ubiquitous net connection to offload mobile data from a mobile HWPG’s sensitivity to community a world considerably brighter than that network to a Wi-Fi network. This eases needs in urban planning in London was envisaged by Gibson. In late 2013, HGC the traffic burden of network operators, recognised with the recent decision to give announced plans to increase the number particularly in congested and highly a green light to the building of another of Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong to almost populated areas, enhancing the user

Sphere #35 2014 18 >>

experience on mobile service.” HGC will into the future by ensuring all customers resulted in waves of ‘smartening’. In the support the development of these new have the fastest possible connection at 1970s and 1980s, ‘smartening’ was used hotspots with an extended optical-fibre their fingertips. to improve the reliability of Hong Kong’s network – supported by 1G broadband power supply. This reliability is vital in backhaul – to more shopping arcades and SMART GRID, SMART CITY a city that has more buildings over 100 public areas. Hong Kong connectivity isn’t just for people metres tall than the next four ‘tall’ cities however. Hongkong Electric Co Ltd (HK (New York, Tokyo, Dubai and Shanghai) Other cities and countries are following a Electric) is finding a path to a future where combined. When over 50 per cent of the similar strategy including Singapore, Seoul, intelligent electrical devices can talk to one population lives above the 15th floor, the Tokyo, the UK and the United States where another and the energy provider through an reliability of energy to power lifts and telecom operators and governments are ‘energy Internet’ — the Smart Grid. provide light must be rock solid. expanding their Wi-Fi coverage. Hong Kong will not be left behind. The Hong Since the first alternating current power grid Gathering beneficial data is the challenge Kong government announced they would was installed in 1886 in Great Barrington, now. High usage consumers, such double the number of free hotspots from Massachusetts, the pursuit of a more as hospitals, major commercial users 10,000 to 20,000. efficient grid has never ceased. For much and shopping malls currently have of history, reliability was the main aim of access to their consumption data on a daily Jennifer notes, “While the government improving grid efficiency. However, modern basis, allowing them to plot and analyse is increasing Wi-Fi hotspots in public consumers demand more: their energy usage. For these users, there are two areas such as government buildings, must not only be reliable, but ideally clean main benefits. First, they can manage hospitals, parks and community centres, and cheap as well. Enter the Smart Grid. their energy use to reduce costs, as HGC is focusing on commercial districts knowledge allows them to plan energy and areas with heavy traffic such as A smart grid can use data about the flow of use more efficiently. shopping malls, streets and clubhouses in power through a system to reroute, store private residential areas. Together, we are and direct energy where needed. This Second, they can determine if their current enhancing the overall Wi-Fi coverage in benefits the system by reducing waste and capital stock (infrastructure, machinery, Hong Kong.” directing energy where it is needed, when and software) could be economically it is needed. replaced by more efficient machinery or Interconnectivity is incredibly important systems. By replacing capital stock at the for any city (and country) as it enables The term is new — the concept isn’t. right time, they can cut costs, reduce their citizens to better interact with their Twenty-year veteran of HK Electric, Mr carbon footprint, and burnish their green world. HGC’s increased Wi-Fi coverage Alex Lee, Senior Meter Engineer, explained credentials in the community. Without will allow Hong Kong to take the next step that efforts to improve the grid have data, they are in the dark.

19 Sphere #35 2014 >> Cit Ciiesti esof otfh teh Feu tFutreure

Hong Kong’s energy supply — vital in a city that has more buildings over a height of 100 metres than the next four ‘tall’ cities (New York, Tokyo, Dubai and Shanghai) combined.

Managing Director of EnviroWaste to get his take on the future of waste management. Despite the negative press the lack of proper waste management has garnered in many jurisdictions around the world, he believes there are numerous positives to look forward to in the immediate future. Gary said, “The biggest short-term advances on the household level will come by increased waste diversion, a reduction in raw materials, and most importantly, by getting as much reuse and recycling as possible.”

Gary also explained the ideal conditions Domestic users will need more complex CLEANING UP AFTER YOURSELF for a city to implement forward waste solutions to enable information to be A cleaner environment is one of the biggest management solutions, “The real change gathered and analysed to decide how to aspirations of modern communities. in waste management will come with alter energy distribution and delivery. HK Energy efficiency is an important part of critical mass economies of scale … shifting Electric has a number of infrastructure the puzzle. So is managing the mountains towards industrial waste programmes proof-of-concept evaluations that seek of waste that threaten to engulf modern while being able to extract energy from the to overcome the challenge of collecting cities without 21st century plans and waste waste management process.” masses of data. management providers. EnviroWaste Services Limited in New Zealand is one of Households are one sector EnviroWaste is EFFICIENCY: ENERGISE! those modern providers. targeting. Listening to customer demands, Mr TC Yee, General Manager (Corporate the company has devised a new system of Development) of HK Electric, explained, Proper waste management is now waste sorting. Customers are now provided “With the ability to increase energy considered a sign of an enlightened with four disposal bins — one for general efficiency and savings, the ability to society. It is a growing global issue and waste, a green waste bin, an organics bin manage commercial customer loading, rightfully so. Due to rapid urbanisation, and an 80 litre refuse collector. The sorting the ability to integrate alternative energy many cities are facing an uphill battle in system allows customers to easily sort sources and an increased ability to manage determining where to put all their rubbish. waste into appropriate bins which in turn consumption. The future is smart grid allows EnviroWaste to dispose of it in the technology — 100 per cent.” ENVIROWASTE TO THE RESCUE most efficient and practical manner while Enter EnviroWaste of New Zealand. helping to reduce the amount of waste sent Smart grid technology can be built into EnviroWaste is currently leading the charge to landfills. a new development from the beginning. by providing practical waste management Challenges lie in improving old systems to solutions to everyday life by making it There are many futures that could come incorporate modern smart grid technology. easy – and cost-effective – for customers to pass. Ideally we will get the best one In the words of TC, “Unless you build from to live a ‘green’ lifestyle. EnviroWaste as long as Hutchison Whampoa works scratch, you need to make a seamless works in partnership with its customers in, and with, the communities they are migration to a more modern system, which to implement cost-effective, sustainable a part of to answer their needs. From takes time.” More specifically, it will be the IT waste management solutions that relieve Gibson’s always-on connectivity to hardware, software and applications solutions pressure on our landfills and move us heritage preservation, to clean, green behind the primary equipment which will closer to a greener tomorrow. infrastructure, HWL’s business units are pose the greatest obstacle to migration. answering the needs of people as they His colleague, Alex, called it ‘a long journey’ WHAT IT TAKES seek to improve their local urbiculture in — but one that HK Electric has started. Sphere caught up with Mr Gary Saunders, the cities of the future.

Sphere #35 2014 20

Energy[Policy VIEWS Hong Kong’s future energy options pit clean vs coal, certain vs questionable. Mr Canning Fok makes the case for local generation.

Like many countries around the Reliability to HKD0.30 per kWh. Add that to the world, Hong Kong is considering The quality of electricity supply in Hong wholesale price of HKD0.80 per kWh what fuel mix meets its energy needs Kong trumps the world with reliability at that Macau pays and Hong Kong’s own and community aspirations. Price, over 99.999 per cent . Hongkong Electric network costs, buying electricity across reliability, air quality, autonomy, (HK Electric) customers in particular the border would undoubtedly be more carbon footprint and much more experience less than one minute of expensive than local generation. bear on the complex considerations outage each year. At first glance, some involved in committing countries, may not think that CSG’s 99.96 per cent Air quality provinces, states and cities to long- reliability is that much of a difference, The electricity supplied to CSG’s term fuel solutions. but those few decimal points translate to Guangdong grid is primarily generated 3.2 hours a year, or 16 minutes a month! from coal, so more coal will have to be The Hong Kong government is If even a recent eight-minute breakdown burnt to meet new demand from Hong consulting public opinion. In May, of the local metro caused chaos Kong. While some may think out of Mr Canning Fok, Chairman of Power throughout the city, it’s not too difficult sight, out of mind, monsoon winds put Assets, made his views known. for one to imagine how disastrous 16 paid to that notion. The winter winds minutes would be to a city of soaring regularly blow polluted air south to Choices high-rises and a financial centre. Not Hong Kong. Not only would Hong Members of the public have been only would the banks and stock exchange Kong’s cousins to the north suffer from presented with two options: be affected, lifts, water pumps and even coal burning, the air would eventually emergency services would be severely blow south to Hong Kong and the Option 1: Purchase 30 per cent crippled. Option 1 would be a big step rest of the Pearl River Delta. Cleaner electricity from neighbouring China backwards for Hong Kong. burning gas would benefit people in Southern Power Grid (CSG); or Hong Kong and China alike and help Price China’s efforts to reduce its overall Option 2: Generate 60 per cent electricity HK Electric customers currently carbon footprint. from natural gas in Hong Kong. pay about HKD1 per kWh. This compares favourably to HKD1.31 per Mr Fok’s strong views come from At the Power Assets shareholder kWh in Macau, which purchases over 90 decades of experience of working in the meeting, Mr Fok presented a case for per cent of its electricity from CSG, and power sector and a great love of Hong strongly supporting Option 2. Hong to other major cities worldwide. If Hong Kong, HK Electric’s headquarters. The Kong’s biggest concerns — reliability, Kong was to connect to CSG’s network, call to duty to make his views known price and air quality — formed the it would require HKD20-30 billion of has been answered in convincing centrepiece of his logic. new infrastructure which translates fashion.

HK Leads on price and stability 38.5 41.0

14.1

$2.30 $2.61 2.1* $2.04 $1.31 0.7 $1.00

Hong Kong Macau New York Sydney London (HK Electric)

Average yearly outage (minute) Tariff comparison per kWh (HKD) *Excluding outage due to stoppage and power supply limits by the Mainland

21 Sphere #35 2014 enterprise focus

Engineering Liwan Gas Fields: Think Big

Husky Energy and China’s an’s thirst for energy knows by Husky Energy and China National no limits. As Asia rises, its Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd. (CNOOC). CNOOC coordinated the biggest demand for energy is quickly There was a clear division of labour in the deepwater gas extraction matching the per capita project. Husky Energy was in charge of Mconsumption of developed the deepwater part of the project, which project in the history of Asia. regions. Even plumbing the depths of the included drilling and installing the subsea Mankind’s energy future deep South China Sea is an option when production facilities and deepwater pipeline. engineering genius is deployed by one of CNOOC was in charge of the shallow part, depends on projects like this. the world’s most sophisticated integrated including building and transporting the energy and energy-related companies, central platform, laying the shallow water Husky Energy. pipeline, and constructing and managing the onshore gas processing plant. “Liwan is Husky Energy’s largest project to date and places us inside the door of one of Challenges, incoming! the fastest growing energy markets in the It took over a year to construct the upper world,” said Asim Ghosh, CEO of Husky part – or topside – of the central platform in Energy. “It was a massive undertaking and Qingdao, a seaside city and part of China’s is a great achievement for deepwater gas heavy industrial heartland. The topside production in the Asia Pacific Region.” of the central platform is the heart of the whole project. All oil and gas extracted Husky Energy didn’t do it alone. The Liwan from the five surrounding undersea oil/gas Gas Project is China’s first deepwater gas fields is pressurised and processed here field development project, jointly developed before transportation through undersea

Sphere #35 2014 22 >>

pipes to the onshore processing plant in the factory to the middle of the ocean, be unable to carry the giant structure. Zhuhai. Engineers claim this is economic thousands of kilometres to the south. No suitable barge was available in China as a single platform can process the output to perform this monumental task. The from several nearby oil/gas fields, reducing Mega-move mission was essentially moving an entire the amount of deep-sea piping needed The topside megastructure is larger than factory from land to the water. to transport output to the onshore gas a football field (110m x 77m), 95m tall and processing plant. weighs over 30,000 tons. It is the biggest Failing to find a suitable barge, engineers structure of its kind in Asia and presented decided to build one themselves. The The construction site, Qingdao, is located a transportation challenge. Engineers were reengineering of a new barge to fit with about halfway between Shanghai and scratching their heads to find a way to the megastructure took another six Beijing and is parallel with Seoul – nowhere transport this megastructure from Qingdao months of effort. near the South China Sea. The massive to the installation site. If too big a barge topside construction therefore needed was used, it wouldn’t fit at the installation When it was done, engineers faced to be transported by CNOOC from site. If too small a barge was used, it would another challenge – a 25mm difference

23 Sphere #35 2014 << Think Big: Liwan Gas Fields

to 30 Olympic-size swimming pools (50m) laid end to end, an area equivalent to a standard credit card experienced six tons of force. This was no place for man to thrive – or even survive.

“Principally, our golden rule is safety first,” says Mr Malcolm Paisley, Manager of Deepwater Production, Husky Energy China. To live by this principal, Husky Energy deployed robotic devices called remote operative vehicles (ROVs) to work in the depths of the sea. They had to install all the machinery on the seabed, and were operated by Husky Energy engineers working at a control panel 1,500m above. “In a marine environment, the ROV is often the eyes, the hands and even the ears of the people that are designed to do the work,” says Mr Tracy Mosness, Vice President of Production and Development, Husky Energy China.

Monitoring well-top conditions is vital. in height between the dock and the barge Husky Energy built devices right on top of deck. Small compared to the height of the the drilling wells to monitor and control structure (95m), but any mismatch could the production of the wells. These devices, cause it to topple and collapse when being The depth of the sea and the each weighing 60,000 tons, were attached pulled onto the barge. The whole mission to the wells on the seabed by the ROVs. would have been compromised if the tides extreme weather presented floated the barge higher or lower than the Husky Energy engineers with These devices ensured that the gas dock by more than 25mm. With the help of continued to flow and could begin its electronic sensors and a senior controller challenges never before faced journey from wellhead to the central with over six years experience to adjust in the South China Sea. platform. That journey of 79km takes the water flow and the subsequent weight the natural gas a day, owing to the low of the barge, the megastructure was temperature and extremely high water successfully loaded aboard and set off to pressure. At that depth, temperature and the South China Sea. pressure, chemicals can materialise that physically block the pipes. Husky Energy SHALLOW WATER danger While this sounded feasible, it would have uses not only engineering expertise, but In August 2012, the lower supporting part required a much longer time to finish the also chemical engineering to ensure that of the central platform was placed in the construction of the central platform and doesn’t happen. sea. The difficulties in locating a 190m tall meant risking a delay to the project. The and 32,000 ton megastructure at a specific whole project cost over HKD3 billion. Innovation ... spot in the water appeared tough, but Delaying it would have resulted in an Back on the surface, engineers were compared to the ensuing challenges, this astronomical rise in costs, ranging from grappling with the challenge of installing operation was a mere warm-up. several hundred thousand dollars to the central platform that would connect several million dollars a day in extra the deep-sea world to the surface. Once the topside megastructure arrived, a expenses. The engineers decided to make use new challenge presented itself – how would of a natural force – tides. They used a engineers load it onto the lower part of Under pressure technique known as ‘float-over deck the central platform? The upper structure While engineers were struggling with installation’. This was precision work was equivalent to the combined weight of problems on the surface of the ocean, the with no room for error. five Eiffel Towers and there was no single conditions deep under the sea presented floating crane in the world able to lift such Husky Energy with huge challenges. This complex process required the upper a heavy object. The company was responsible for the part of the structure on the barge to be underwater operations, but with the placed on top of the lower part of the One alternative would have been to break immense pressures and temperatures structure when the tide rose. When the the structure into smaller components close to freezing, the sea was a hazardous tide fell, the lower water level allowed the and to then assemble it piece by piece. place to work. At 1,500m deep, equivalent upper part of the structure to attach to

Sphere #35 2014 24 <<

the lower part. The technique was first of operation. The Husky-CNOOC team used in China in 2005. Even with years of would not give up. Persistence carried the experience, the float-over deck installation day. After over 30 hours of work, the final was no easy job. The South China Sea is construction was successful and years of “Liwan is Husky Energy’s known for notoriously bad weather, and effort paid off. largest project to date” in addition, compared to Bohai where the technique was first used in China, the Built and producing! South China Sea is much deeper and the This March, to great fanfare, Husky Energy climate is much more treacherous. Liwan and CNOOC launched the production of Mr Asim Ghosh, CEO, Husky Energy is located in the typhoon corridor and in the Liwan 3-1 field with initial natural gas an open ocean area. The region is swept sales expected to be approximately 250 by strong gales for over 200 days a year, million cubic feet per day gross, rising to making the installation task a trying ordeal. 300 million cubic feet. equivalent to a plantation of 19 million adult ... and boldness The Liwan Gas Project currently consists trees in an area of 48 million acres of forest. By the spring of 2013, engineers were of three fields: Liwan 3-1, Liuhua 34-2 and waiting for a fine weather window Liuhua 29-1. Pending final approval, the “The Liwan project has truly been a to commence the final stage of the Liuhua 34-2 field will be tied into the Liwan watershed project in the evolution of Husky construction – but the weather didn’t infrastructure in the second half of this year. Energy, from being a purely Canadian cooperate. A sudden deterioration saw the Liuhua 29-1 gas production could top 500 company to being a truly global company cancellation of the operation which was million cubic feet per day gross by 2016–17. in the oil and gas business,” according to scheduled for 18 May 2013. On 22 May, a proud Mr Robert Hinkel, Asia Pacific a 30-hour window for operation opened. Engineering legacy Chief Operating Officer of Husky Energy. It was not optimal weather for work but The Liwan Gas Project is an engineering Working with CNOOC and partners pitting their experience against the heavy marvel and it serves an environmentally from around the globe has resulted in a cost of delay, the engineers decided to take friendly purpose. Compared to the calorific pioneering effort to secure energy supplies a gamble. They were first challenged by the value generated from coal combustion, the for southern China for decades to come. malfunction of a windlass. Then a sudden amount of gas produced in the gas field It takes two hands to clap and the synergy heavy rain pushed the operation back could reduce the emission of carbon dioxide between the two energy giants has made a two hours, further narrowing the window burned from coal by 5.4 million tons, thunderous sound.

25 Sphere #35 2014 Philanthropy Focus

Community[Care Easing the final parting

All humanity faces the same end; not all face it with the same compassionate support. The Li Ka Shing Foundation is taking steps to dignify and ease the passing of those suffering in Hong Kong, and is doing so through concepts and services it has successfully introduced in Mainland China.

onations have seen hospice it provides. Dr Leung To-wai, Chief of Social Work Officer of the Department centres built in 10 public Service of the Department of Clinical of Clinical Oncology in Queen Elizabeth hospitals in Hong Kong, with Oncology in Queen Mary Hospital, sees Hospital, adds that the centre can be more than 100 healthcare the extraordinary benefits the centre used for different activities including Dprofessionals and 2,700 brings. Multidisciplinary experts, such life celebrations, family gatherings, volunteers providing holistic services as doctors, social workers, nutritionists, photo shoots and more. She recalls how to terminal cancer patients. Medical physiotherapists and more, are present depressed patients were cheered up after consultations, bereavement counselling in most hospitals but are rarely joining the centre’s activities. “What we do for patient families, home visits and concentrated to cater specifically for may be little, but it may have a big impact. volunteering services in hospice care terminally ill cancer patients. We hope patients can continue to be happy are all provided. Total donations to the even as their health deteriorates.” programme in Hong Kong so far amount “Without the hospice centre, services are to HKD120 million. The Li Ka Shing fragmented,” says Dr Leung. Now the centre Ms Ng Cheuk-wah, Advanced Practice Foundation (LKSF) is helping families gathers talent across the hospital and offers Nurse working with Dr Leung, shared one when they need it most. opportunities for all the relevant healthcare touching story. A female patient in her 50s professionals to discuss the proper hoped to witness her son’s wedding, but her “Dignity in death is priceless. Care and treatments for physical, social, psychological health deteriorated quickly. Both families respect for those with a terminal illness and spiritual care for the patients. gathered beside the surgery room – with are key indicators of our social values and modest decorations and bright clothes the mark of any civilised society,” Mr Li Ka- Dr Leung stresses the warm and cosy for the patient – to celebrate the part of shing said. He made his first donation to design of the hospice centre that has the wedding that included the exchange hospice care in Mainland China in 1998 and received positive feedback from the of wedding rings and the patient drinking extended this philanthropic work to Hong patients, “For terminal cancer patients, the tea presented by the bride, her future Kong in 2007. This has benefited over they face more miserable days than daughter-in-law, signifying the bride’s 163,000 terminally ill cancer patients. happy days. We want to minimise the acceptance into the husband’s family. The pressure on them from seeing doctors patient passed away peacefully the following Beyond physical care in follow-up consultations.” day and the families were able to move on, The physical existence of a hospice free from the regret that the mother had centre is as important as the services Ms Joe Huang Kang-pan, Assistant missed this landmark family event.

Served Psychological counselling 27,000 terminally ill cancer 55,000 patients with 88% 82,000 pain control rate Home care sessions

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Mr Li Ka-shing shares his views with Professor John C Y Leong, Chairman of the Hospital Authority, and the healthcare professionals on the ‘Heart of Gold’ hospice service programme.

Palliative care is a humane endeavour which has allowed the realisation of the that requires noble hearts, professional centre and the assembly of a group of skills and years of experience to master dedicated professionals. “It doesn’t matter the job. The requirements may be tough “Hospice care gives comfort and how hard we work. The best return is a but when they are fulfilled, Mr Li’s vision hope where only anguish and smile shown on the patient’s face,” says will come true: “Hope transcends and Dr Leung. connects, and you bring peace, comfort sorrow are apparent. We must and dignity.” encourage such meaningful Mr Li is also grateful to the professionals, saying, “Hospice care gives comfort and Funds for more work and offer help where it hope where only anguish and sorrow Apart from funding for the construction is needed.” are apparent. We must encourage such of the centres, LKSF contributes to the meaningful work and offer help where annual hospice conference held by the it is needed.” Hospital Authority (HA) of Hong Kong. Mr Li Ka-shing The conference gathers hospice staff from Over the next three years, the Foundation Hong Kong and the Mainland to share their will seek to involve more participants experiences in palliative care. and will bolster community outreach programmes in an effort to strengthen LKSF also funds the HA’s training and create greater awareness for of volunteers in hospice care. It is a Ms Ho Mei-ling of Queen Mary Hospital palliative care services. nine-hour comprehensive training says the selection criteria include the covering basic knowledge in palliative volunteering experience of the applicants, The philanthropic LKSF and the healthcare and cancer treatments, basic rules to their readiness to undertake this heroes have together served terminally engage with patients, communication challenging job and their enthusiasm for ill cancer patients. In Neil Young’s ‘Heart skills and attitudes on life and death caring for patients. of Gold’, he sings “… I’m getting old, keeps issues. After completing the training, me searching for a heart of gold.” In the volunteers are certified and screened ‘Heart of Gold’ seventh year of the hospice programme in before they are allowed to look after The healthcare team in the hospice Hong Kong, the gold has been given and patients. Assistant Social Work Officer centre is very grateful to LKSF’s funding, the heart of gold has been found. Website and 77,000 mobile app accessed 230,000 , Specialists clinics & hours of 450 000 2,700 centres service sessions volunteer service times volunteers

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Pamela Youde Queen Mary Grantham Nethersole Queen Elizabeth Hong Kong Princess Margaret Prince of Wales North District Tuen Mun Hospital Hospital Eastern Hospital Hospital Buddhist Hospital Hospital Hospital Hospital Hospital