Dear Reader,
This past year progressed well in our long-term commitment to sustainability. Marked achievements have been made in how we are shaping our future as a corporate citizen and how our business decisions are increasingly influenced by our culture of enterprising spirit.
Active dialogue with our principal stakeholders and better managing existing challenges to meet the community's social aspirations took on new impetus. Amongst our commitments for the year were our signature to the Hong Kong CSR Charter and the implementation of the formalised corporate CSR Guideline. These initiatives are already influencing our workplace practices, improving our services delivery and providing the framework for engaging stakeholders, both internally and externally.
Operational achievements during the year demonstrate that sustainability is a driver in our business strategy. We have increased our market share in the public transport sector as well as achieved record passenger numbers supported by a campaign to enhance services and exceed customer expectations. Eco-efficient systems and practices applied to our properties continue to contain costs while improving the quality and value of our buildings and shopping malls. These initiatives enhance the viability of our rail+property business model to again return dividends consistent with shareholder expectations.
The mindset of enterprising spirit continues to bring us recognition as a world-class business organisation. The recent completion of our jointly developed commercial and residential projects showcase sophisticated and sustainable urban environments supported by the best in applicable eco-efficient technologies and management practices. The opening of the themed Disneyland Resort Line introduces technological innovation and brings new levels of customer services to our rail transport services. These are outstanding achievements by any measure having been attained through our ethos of working smarter and more creatively within the same set of resources. We live our goal of being industry's partner of choice.
In this coming year we face challenges that will test our work practices and business strategy, in particular, in mainland China. Despite the changes in working environments and the differences in cultural expectations, sustainability remains an underlying tenet to how we do business. At all stages in design, construction and operations we have the expertise and mindset to engage our partners and engender best practice.
In addition, we look forward to a year that will continue to reward our stakeholders with continued improvement in services, more community involvement in planning our new rail projects and growing our reputation as partner of choice in international markets.
Yours sincerely,
C K Chow
Chief Executive Officer
May 2006
