Notes and other explanatory information [abstract]

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND DISCLOSURES

2.3

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND DISCLOSURES

The Group has adopted the following new and revised IFRSs for the first time for the current year’s consolidated financial statements:

Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2	Disclosure of Accounting Policies
Amendments to IAS 12	International Tax Reform – Pillar Two Model Rules

The nature and the impact of the new and revised IFRSs that are applicable to the Group are described below:

(a)

Amendments to IAS 1 require entities to disclose their material accounting policy information rather than their significant accounting policies. Accounting policy information is material if, when considered together with other information included in an entity’s financial statements, it can reasonably be expected to influence decisions that the primary users of general purpose financial statements make on the basis of those financial statements. Amendments to IFRS Practice Statement 2 Making Materiality Judgements provide non-mandatory guidance on how to apply the concept of materiality to accounting policy disclosures. The Group has disclosed the material accounting policy information in note 2.5 to the financial statements. The amendments did not have any impact on the measurement, recognition or presentation of any items in the Group’s financial statements.

(b)

Since the Group did not fall within the scope of the Pillar Two model rules, the amendments did not have any impact to the Group.

Business combinations and goodwill

(a)

Business combinations and goodwill

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration transferred is measured at the acquisition date fair value which is the sum of the acquisition date fair values of assets transferred by the Group, liabilities assumed by the Group to the former owner of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree. For each business combination, the Group elects whether to measure the non-controlling interests in the acquiree at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. All other components of non-controlling interests are measured at fair value. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

The Group determines that it has acquired a business when the acquired set of activities and assets includes an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs.

When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation in accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions as of the acquisition date. This includes the separation of embedded derivatives in host contracts of the acquiree.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the previously held equity interest is remeasured at its acquisition date fair value and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the acquirer is recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. Contingent consideration classified as an asset or liability is measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. If the contingent consideration is not within the scope of IFRS 9, it is measured in accordance with the appropriate IFRSs. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured and subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred, the amount recognized for non-controlling interests and any fair value of the Group’s previously held equity interests in the acquiree over the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If the sum of this consideration and other items is lower than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is, after reassessment, recognized in profit or loss as a gain on bargain purchase.

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. The Group performs its annual impairment test of goodwill as of December 31. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units, or groups of cash-generating units, that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the Group are assigned to those units or groups of units.

Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (group of cash-generating units) to which the goodwill relates. Where the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (group of cash-generating units) is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. An impairment loss recognized for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period.

Where goodwill has been allocated to a cash-generating unit (or group of cash-generating units) and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill associated with the operation disposed of is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on the disposal. Goodwill disposed of in these circumstances is measured based on the relative value of the operation disposed of and the portion of the cash-generating unit retained.

Related parties

(c)

Related parties

A party is considered to be related to the Group if:

(1)

the party is a person or a close member of that person’s family and that person

	(i)	has control or joint control over the Group;
	(ii)	has significant influence over the Group; or
	(iii)	is a member of the key management personnel of the Group or of a parent of the Group;

or

(2)

the party is an entity where any of the following conditions applies:

	(i)	the entity and the Group are members of the same group;
	(ii)	one entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or of a parent, subsidiary or fellow subsidiary of the other entity);
	(iii)	the entity and the Group are joint ventures of the same third party;
	(iv)	one entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of the third entity;
	(v)	the entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of either the Group or an entity related to the Group;
	(vi)	the entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (1);
	(vii)	a person identified in (1)(i) has significant influence over the entity or is a member of the key management personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the entity); and
	(viii)	the entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key management personnel services to the Group or to the parent of the Group.

Intangible assets (other than goodwill)

(e)

Intangible assets (other than goodwill)

Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination is the fair value at the date of acquisition. The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed to be finite. Intangible assets with finite lives are subsequently amortized over the useful economic life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortization period and the amortization method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at least at each financial year end.

The following intangible assets are amortized from the date they are available for use and their estimated useful lives are as follows:


Concession right		28 years
Patents		18 years
Software		5 years

The useful life of the patents of the Group is determined based on the shorter of their statutory validity periods and the expected benefit periods.

An intangible asset is derecognized on disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal. Any gain or loss arising upon derecognition (calculated as the difference between the net sale proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant intangible asset) is included in the statement of profit or loss.

Exploration and evaluation costs

(g)

Exploration and evaluation costs

Exploration and evaluation assets include topographical and geological surveys, exploratory drilling, sampling and trenching and activities in relation to commercial and technical feasibility studies, and expenditure incurred to secure further mineralization in existing bodies and to expand the capacity of a mine. Expenditure incurred prior to acquiring legal rights to explore an area is expensed as incurred.

Once the exploration right has been acquired, exploration and evaluation expenditures are charged to the statement of profit or loss as incurred, unless a future economic benefit is more likely than not to be realized. Exploration and evaluation assets acquired in a business combination are initially recognized at fair value. They are subsequently stated at cost less accumulated impairment.

When it can be reasonably ascertained that a mining property is capable of commercial production, exploration and evaluation costs are transferred to tangible or intangible assets according to the nature of the exploration and evaluation assets. If any project is abandoned during the evaluation stage, the total expenditure thereon will be written off.

Investments and other financial assets

(i)

Investments and other financial assets

Initial recognition and measurement

Financial assets are classified, at initial recognition, as subsequently measured at amortized cost, fair value through other comprehensive income, and fair value through profit or loss.

The classification of financial assets at initial recognition depends on the financial asset’s contractual cash flow characteristics and the Group’s business model for managing them. With the exception of trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component or for which the Group has applied the practical expedient of not adjusting the effect of a significant financing component, the Group initially measures a financial asset at its fair value, plus in the case of a financial asset not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs. Trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component or for which the Group has applied the practical expedient are measured at the transaction price determined under IFRS 15 in accordance with the policies set out in Note 2.5(aa) below.

In order for a financial asset to be classified and measured at amortized cost or fair value through other comprehensive income, it needs to give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest (“SPPI”) on the principal amount outstanding. Financial assets with cash flows that are not SPPI are classified and measured at fair value through profit or loss, irrespective of the business model.

The Group’s business model for managing financial assets refers to how it manages its financial assets in order to generate cash flows. The business model determines whether cash flows will result from collecting contractual cash flows, selling the financial assets, or both. Financial assets classified and measured at amortized cost are held within a business model with the objective to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows, while financial assets classified and measured at fair value through other comprehensive income are held within a business model with the objective of both holding to collect contractual cash flows and selling. Financial assets which are not held within the aforementioned business models are classified and measured at fair value through profit or loss.

Purchases or sales of financial assets that require delivery of assets within the period generally established by regulation or convention in the marketplace are recognised on the trade date, that is, the date that the Group commits to purchase or sell the asset.

Subsequent measurement

The subsequent measurement of financial assets depends on their classification as follows:

Financial assets at amortized cost (debt instruments)

Financial assets at amortized cost are subsequently measured using the effective interest method and are subject to impairment. Gains and losses are recognized in the statement of profit or loss when the asset is derecognized, modified or impaired.

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (debt instruments)

For debt investments at fair value through other comprehensive income, interest income, foreign exchange revaluation and impairment losses or reversals are recognized in the statement of profit or loss and computed in the same manner as for financial assets measured at amortized cost. The remaining fair value changes are recognized in other comprehensive income. Upon derecognition, the cumulative fair value change recognized in other comprehensive income is recycled to the statement of profit or loss.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are carried in the statement of financial position at fair value with net changes in fair value recognized in the statement of profit or loss.

This category includes derivative instruments and equity investments which the Group had not irrevocably elected to classify at fair value through other comprehensive income. Dividends on the equity investments are also recognized as other income in the statement of profit or loss when the right of payment has been established.

Impairment of financial assets

(k)

Impairment of financial assets

The Group recognizes an allowance for expected credit losses (“ECLs”) for all debt instruments not held at fair value through profit or loss. ECLs are based on the difference between the contractual cash flows due in accordance with the contract and all the cash flows that the Group expects to receive, discounted at an approximation of the original effective interest rate. The expected cash flows will include cash flows from the sale of collateral held or other credit enhancements that are integral to the contractual terms.

General approach

ECLs are recognized in two stages. For credit exposures for which there has not been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, ECLs are provided for credit losses that result from default events that are possible within the next 12 months (a 12-month ECL). For those credit exposures for which there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, a loss allowance is required for credit losses expected over the remaining life of the exposure, irrespective of the timing of the default (a lifetime ECL).

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether the credit risk on a financial instrument has increased significantly since initial recognition. When making the assessment, the Group compares the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as of the reporting date with the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as of the date of initial recognition and considers reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort, including historical and forward-looking information.

The Group considers a financial asset in default based on historical patterns and the credit risk management practices of the Group. However, in certain cases, the Group may also consider a financial asset to be in default when internal or external information indicates that the Group is unlikely to receive the outstanding contractual amounts in full before taking into account any credit enhancements held by the Group.

A financial asset is written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovering the contractual cash flows.

Financial assets at amortized cost excluding trade receivables and contract assets are subject to impairment under the general approach, and they are classified within the following stages for measurement of ECLs except for trade receivables and contract assets which apply the simplified approach as detailed below:

Stage 1 – Financial instruments for which credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition and for which the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to 12-month ECLs;

Stage 2 – Financial instruments for which credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition but that are not credit-impaired financial assets and for which the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs.

Stage 3 – Financial assets that are credit-impaired at the reporting date (but that are not purchased or originated credit-impaired) and for which the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs;

Simplified approach

For trade receivables and contract assets including those containing a significant financing component, the Group applies the simplified approach in calculating ECLs. Therefore, the Group does not track changes in credit risk, but instead recognizes a loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting date. The Group has established a provision matrix that is based on its historical credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the economic environment.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

(m)

Derecognition of financial liabilities

A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is discharged or canceled, or expires.

When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a derecognition of the original liability and a recognition of a new liability, and the difference between the respective carrying amounts is recognized in the statement of profit or loss.

Inventories

(o)

Inventories

Inventories include materials and spare parts and are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable values. Cost is determined on a weighted average cost basis and comprises costs of purchase and transportation costs. Net realizable values are based on the estimated selling expenses less any estimated cost to be incurred to completion and disposal.

Employee benefits

(q)

Employee benefits

Pension obligations

The Group contributes on a monthly basis to various defined contribution retirement benefit plans administered by the PRC government. The relevant government agencies undertake to assume the retirement benefit obligation payable to all existing and future retired employees under these plans and the Group has no further obligation for post-retirement benefits beyond the contributions made. Further information is set out in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

Housing funds

All full-time employees of the Group in mainland China are entitled to participate in various government-sponsored housing funds. The Group contributes on a monthly basis to these funds based on certain percentages of the salaries of the employees. The Group's liability with respect to these funds is limited to the contributions payable in each year.

Borrowing costs

(s)

Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs directly relating to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalized as part of the cost of those assets. The capitalization of such borrowing costs ceases when the asset is substantially ready for its intended use or sale. All other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that an entity incurred in connection with the borrowing funds.

Foreign currencies

(u)

Foreign currencies

The functional currency of the Company is the Hong Kong dollars. The functional currency of substantially all the operations of the Group is the CNY, the national currency of the PRC. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the CNY recorded by the entities of the Group are initially recorded using their respective functional currency rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in other currencies have been translated into CNY at the functional currency rates of exchange prevailing at the end of the reporting period. The resulting exchange gains or losses are credited or charged to the consolidated statements of profit or loss. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date of the initial transactions.

The consolidated financial statements of certain overseas subsidiary operations with a functional currency other than the CNY have been translated into CNY. The assets and liabilities of these entities have been translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the reporting date and their consolidated statements of profit or loss have been translated using the weighted average exchange rate for the year. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of other comprehensive income.

On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative amount recognized in equity relating to that particular foreign operation is recognized in the consolidated statements of profit or loss.

Provisions

(w)

Provisions

A provision is recognized when a present obligation (legal or constructive) has arisen as a result of a past event and it is probable that a future outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, provided that a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

When the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset, but only when the reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to a provision is presented in the statement of profit or loss net of any reimbursement.

When the effect of discounting is material, the amount recognized for a provision is the present value at the end of the reporting period of the future expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation. The increase in the discounted present value amount arising from the passage of time is included in finance costs in the statement of profit or loss.

Government grants

(y)

Government grants

Government grants are recognized at their fair value where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and all attaching conditions will be complied with. When the grant relates to an expense item, it is recognized as income on a systematic basis over the period in which the costs, for which it is intended to compensate, are expensed.

Revenue recognition – Discontinued Operations

(aa)

Revenue recognition – Discontinued Operations

Revenue from contracts with customers

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when control of goods or services is transferred to the customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

When the consideration in a contract includes a variable amount, the amount of consideration is estimated to be that to which the Group will be entitled in exchange for transferring the goods or services to the customer. The variable consideration is estimated at contract inception and constrained until it is highly probable that a significant revenue reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the associated uncertainty with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

When the contract contains a financing component which provides the customer with a significant benefit of financing the transfer of goods or services to the customer for more than one year, revenue is measured at the present value of the amount receivable, discounted using the discount rate that would be reflected in a separate financing transaction between the Group and the customer at contract inception. When the contract contains a financing component which provides the Group with a significant financial benefit for more than one year, revenue recognized under the contract includes the interest expense accreted on the contract liability under the effective interest method. For a contract where the period between the payment by the customer and the transfer of the promised goods or services is one year or less, the transaction price is not adjusted for the effects of a significant financing component, using the practical expedient in IFRS 15.

The Group satisfies a performance obligation and recognizes revenue over time, if one of the following criteria is met:

– The customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the Group’s performance as the Group performs.

– The Group’s performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls as the asset is created or enhanced.

– The Group’s performance does not create an asset with an alternate use to the Group and the Group has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date.

If none of the above conditions are met, the Group recognizes revenue at the point in time at which the performance obligation is satisfied.

The progress towards complete satisfaction of the performance obligation is measured based on the Group’s efforts or inputs to the satisfaction of the performance obligation, by reference to the surveyors’ assessment of work performed and the costs incurred up to the end of the reporting period as a percentage of total estimated costs for each contract.

When the Group provides more than one service in a service concession arrangement, the transaction price will be allocated to each performance obligation by reference to their relative stand-alone selling prices. In determining the transaction price, the Group adjusts the promised amount of consideration for the effect of a financing component if it is significant.

Construction services

The Group’s performance with respect to construction services creates or enhances an asset or work in progress that the customer controls as the asset is created or enhanced. The Group satisfies the performance obligation and recognizes revenue over time, by reference to completion of the specific transaction assessed on the basis of either the surveyors’ assessment of work performed for Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contracts or the costs incurred up to the end of the reporting period as a percentage of total estimated costs for certain contracts solely associated with equipment installation.

In some circumstances, the Group as subcontractor of the construction service may not be able to reasonably measure the outcome of a performance obligation in the early states of a contract. The Group recognizes revenue only to the extent of the costs incurred until such time that it can reasonably measure the outcome of the performance obligation.

The fair value of the construction services under a service concession arrangement is initially estimated at the date of the agreement based on a cost-plus-margin basis with reference to the prevailing market rate of gross margin applicable to similar construction services rendered

Operation services of service concession arrangements

Operation revenue from service concession arrangements is recognized over the period of time that the services are rendered, and the benefits are received and consumed simultaneously by the customers.

Sales of water treatment equipment

Revenue from the sales of water treatment equipment is recognized at the point in time when control of the asset is transferred to the customer. Control is generally transferred when: (i) the customer obtains the physical possession or the legal title of water treatment equipment; and (ii) the Group has a present right to payment and the collection of the consideration is probable.

Maintenance services

Revenue from maintenance services is recognized over the period of time that the services are rendered, and the benefits are received and consumed simultaneously by the customers.

Trading of copper ores

The Group purchased copper ores from third-party suppliers and then resells to a third-party trading company. The Group controlled the copper ores prior to selling them to customers. Revenue was recognized on a gross basis, and at the point in time when control of the asset was transferred to the customer, upon delivery of the copper ores to the customers.

Other income

Imputed finance income under a service concession arrangement is recognized on an accrual basis using the effective interest rate method by applying the rate that discounts the estimated future cash receipts over the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, when appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.

Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis using the effective interest method by applying the rate that discounts the estimated future cash receipts over the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, when appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.