To support and help those HKIE members, past members as well as their immediate families who have fallen upon hard times with financial needs, the Institution set up the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Benevolent Fund in 1993 to provide assistance to them. On the expiry of the term of that Benevolent Fund, a new HKIE Benevolent Fund was set up in September 2014. Ir Dr Alex Chan, Ir Dr Andrew Chan, Ir James Kwan and myself are currently the Trustees of the Fund.

Throughout these years, the Trustees of the Fund considered every application on a case-by-case basis to help those who are in need. As always, we react speedily and with compassion to all applications. With the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, it is anticipated that application for financial assistance from the Fund may increase in the year. To meet the funding needs under this circumstance, we would appeal for your generous donations to the Fund.

For your reference, I would list out the Guidelines for application for the Fund as below.

• The applicant must be a HKIE member, a past member or his/her immediate family. Each application is assessed solely on its own merit and the decision of the Trustees shall be final.
• Applications must be made in writing on the HKIE designated application form and to be accompanied by a declaration listing out the financial situation including details of all assets and liabilities, income and expenditure in the family, with the amount of support requested. An explanation of why public assistance is not adequate is also required. The application form is obtainable via the HKIE website or through the Secretariat at benevolent@hkie.org.hk.
• Where necessary, the applicant may be asked to provide additional information or to attend an interview.
• The Fund can be provided in the following ways:
  • By Grant - No repayment is required.
    Applicable to those applicants when repayment cannot be reasonably expected in the foreseeable nfuture or otherwise.
  • By Interest Free Loan - Repayment is required, by lump sum or installments.
    Applicable to those applicants who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties.
• The Trustees will determine the final amount, payment and repayment terms of an application.

It may be worth pointing out that since the Fund is limited in resources, the Trustees would exercise great care in assessing the eligibility of the applications.

If you would like to make donations to the Fund, please do so while making payment of your membership subscription or contact the Secretariat of the Institution for details. On the other hand, if you would like to obtain further information on application for the Fund, please also contact the Secretariat of the Institution.

Ir Chan Chi-chiu

Chairman
The HKIE Benevolent Fund

The Engineering Council (UK) implemented the SARTOR3 system from 1999. Accredited MEng degrees or accredited BEng degrees plus matching sections are required to satisfy the academic requirements for Chartered Engineers in the UK. The HKIE is a signatory to the Washington Accord and the HKIE recognises the accredited MEng or accredited BEng degrees plus matching sections of the Engineering Council (UK) from first intake year 1999 as satisfying the academic requirements for Member of the HKIE.

The SARTOR3 system has been replaced by the UK-SPEC since 1 March 2004 and the updated academic requirements for Chartered Engineers (CEng) Registration are as follows:

(i) An accredited integrated MEng degree; or

(ii) An accredited Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology plus either an appropriate Masters degree accredited or approved by a professional engineering institution; or

(iii) An accredited Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology plus appropriate further learning to Masters level.

In line with these changes, the HKIE shall accept graduates from the UK as satisfying the academic requirements for Member of the Institution if they could provide document proof from the Engineering Council (UK) that they have satisfied the academic requirements ie either (i), (ii) or (iii) for Chartered Engineers (CEng) Registration.

The online CPD logbook service is now in operation to provide solely for members of the HKIE to record their personal CPD activities. Members are invited to enter the Member Login area of our website to access to this online free-of-charge CPD logbook for keeping a systemic record of their CPD participation.

For trainees who are under the formal training schemes of the HKIE, they will remain to be required to record their CPD activities in the Record of CPD with endorsement by their Engineering Supervisors.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Member Login Service Support at mlssupport@hkie.org.hk.

Commencing 1 January 2019, competence-based approach to CPD activities will be fully implemented as part of CPD requirements for Corporate Members. Corporate Members are required to undertake, out of the 30 hours per year, at least 5 hours each for two areas of CPD activities, namely “Technical Matters” (TM) and “Broader Areas of Studies” (BAS).

Corporate Members are required to complete and return an annual CPD Declaration Form together with the membership subscription advice to the Institution. A random checking, usually 1% sampling, on all Corporate Members, will be conducted on an annual basis. Members who are selected for checking will be asked to submit their evidences of CPD.

The following actions shall be taken in case of non-compliance:

1. Corporate Members who fail to comply with the CPD requirement in the first year selected for sampling will be asked to submit their records again in the following year;
2. Warning letters will be issued to Corporate Members who fail to comply in two consecutive years. The HKIE Continuing Professional Development Committee (CPDC) will also follow up with those Corporate Members on the reasons of non-compliance;
3. Corporate Members who fail to comply with the CPD requirements in the third consecutive year may be invited to an interview with HKIE CPDC Representative(s);
4. Corporate Members who fail to comply with the CPD requirements for the 4th consecutive year will have their names published in Hong Kong Engineer.
   
   For details, please refer to the “Revised Guidance Notes for Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Corporate Members” which is available on the HKIE website at http://www.hkie.org.hk.

Corporate Membership has satisfied the Commissioner for Labour in respect of section 6BA(4), Cap 59 since 1998 on the understanding that Corporate Members have undertaken a minimum units in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes, which include updates on occupational health and safety legislation. On the basis that Corporate Members will continuously update their knowledge in occupational safety and health through CPD, Corporate Members of the HKIE do not need to take mandatory basic safety training before entering construction sites.

Please note that the HKIE is required to provide such CPD records concerning the recognition of the Corporate Members’ training for the purpose of section 6BA, Cap 59 upon the request of the Labour Department.

Members may refer to the online references of safety training from relevant statutory bodies, including the Occupational Safety & Health Council and Construction Industry Council (http://www.cic.hk/eng/main/safety-corner/).

Corporate Members and Associate Members who have been removed from the membership roll (due to resignation or striking off by Council resolution) for more than seven years will be required to submit fresh applications should they wish to re-join the Institution. All other grades of members who have been removed from the membership roll (due to resignation or striking off by Council resolution) for more than three years will be required to submit fresh applications should they wish to re-join the Institution. Subject to the above, the current payment scale for reinstatement of membership other than for non-resident members, is a reinstatement fee of HK$400 (for administration purpose), plus all arrears in subscription. The arrears in subscription shall be subject to a maximum of three years’ subscriptions prior to the application for reinstatement of membership.

Non-resident members who apply for the reinstatement of membership as non-resident members shall only be required to pay a reinstatement fee of HK$400; all arrears in subscription shall be waived. All other requirements for reinstatement of membership shall remain unchanged.

HKIE Transactions is a quarterly periodical that provides a forum for discussing all aspects of engineering from both theoretical and practical perspectives and is now in Volume 28. Full-length papers, technical notes and discussions on any topic of engineering are always welcome. If your expertise is in any of the following areas, we look forward to receiving your paper!

• Aeronautical, aerospace and aviation engineering
• Building science and services engineering
• Chemical, biological and biomedical engineering
• Civil and structural engineering
• Computer science
• Electrical and electronic engineering
• Energy and environmental engineering
• Engineering management
• Industrial and manufacturing systems engineering
• Information engineering
• Materials science and engineering
• Mechanical and automation engineering

Good quality practical papers are as welcome as those of an academic nature.

Submit your manuscript via ScholarOne Manuscripts System (S1M)
Online submission of manuscripts: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/thie.

Before submission, authors are invited to check the submission guidelines at: https://www.hkie.org.hk/hkietransactions/instructions-for-authors for the Instruction for Authors and Referencing Style.

The journal is now paper-free and subscription-free. You can read all published papers at http://www.hkie.org.hk/hkietransactions.

Enquiries
hkietransactions@hkie.org.hk

HKIE Cufflinks, tie clip and magnetic badge set

Cufflinks set

We are excited to announce the launch of the brand new HKIE cufflinks, tie clip and magnetic badge set. Turning the simplified HKIE Dragon Coat of Arms into matching cufflinks and magnetic badge, together with the tie clip engraved with HKIE logo, it’s perfect for your special occasions. These are the accessories of simplicity and chic that you definitely need to own a set.

Cufflinks

Made of plated copper, the HKIE cufflinks’ sophisticated matte-silver appearance goes well with any of your formal outfit.

Tie clip

The HKIE tie clip is laser-engraved with HKIE logo. The matte-silver colour created an understated elegant design, matches your ties and your style. It adds a touch of class to your HKIE ties in navy blue or burgundy.

Magnetic badge

The exquisite HKIE magnetic badge, also made of plated copper, adding style to your clothes without harming the textile. Whether attaching the matte-silver magnetic badge on a suit jacket or a one-piece dress, it would be a modish touch-up of your outfit.

HKIE lady scarf

If you are looking for a souvenir with a sense of femininity, the gold HKIE lady scarf is your must-have item your closet. The HKIE Lady Scarf printed with simplified HKIE Dragon Coat of Arms pattern monogram is 100% made of silk, making it both fashionables and comfortable. The hKIE lady scarf is now available of HK $290 each.

HKIE ties

With an eye-catching and elegant design, the HKIE Ties are among the most popular souvenirs for our members. Six new ties are now available and may be an essential piece to add to your wardrobe. Embroidered with the simplified HKIE Dragon Coat of Arms, either in a single, monogram or two-colour pattern, the ties are timeless accessories for fellow engineers and suitable for every occasion. The six new ties are now available at HK$100 each.

For details of our whole range of souvenirs, please visit: https://hkie.org.hk/en/membership/souvenir/.

For enquiries and ordering, please contact our reception dest at 2895 4446.

EF members attending the Annual General Meeting on 22 October 2021

It has been my honour for being the new Chairperson of Engineering Forum (EF) and to give my first report for the year 2020/2021.

The new Board of Directors for the year 2021-2023 has been successfully formed after nominations of the Chairperson and ten Directors by the HKIE Council and election of Directors during the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 18 March 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to Ir Ringo Yu Shek Man for his leadership and effort made as EF Chairman in the past two years.

EF grasped every opportunity to maintain connection with the society and promote the engineering profession during the utmost difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular Ir Aaron Bok has represented EF to deliver a talk to members of Young Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) on the topic of “Hong Kong Wonderful Infrastructure and Future” on 17 April 2021. We welcome and expect more similar sharing and views exchange with other recognised parties of the society in the future.

Indeed, EF has been striving to serve as a bridge between engineering industry and the public. There is setup within EF of having different Editorial Groups in conducting researches on community affairs and with views to promulgate the engineers’ perspective through media reporting. And now that our researches will not only be limited to community affairs, but would also cover more on topical issues in relation to the environment, innovation and technology, such as climate change, decarbonisation, sustainable development goals, digital twins, smart city, just to name a few. For example, we are glad that Ir Prof Peter Lee had helped forming a research group on the topic of “Floating City” last year to kick-start the initiative, and we are also delighted to have members of the HKIE President’s Protégé Club joining the group together to explore the possibilities with newer insights on these topics. On this I very much appreciated the support given by the Directors of EF in providing their insightful information for the researches. We would continue to explore more hot topics for studying upon and submit as appropriate articles to the newspapers and media about our study outcomes. We hope that these researches and published articles could arouse public interests and attention on our engineering industry, and on us in contributing to the betterment of the society as a whole.

The year ahead will be yet another challenging year, but as the new Chairperson of EF, I am confident in leading EF to ride through any encountered challenges and difficulties, and all to attain further achievements under a “New Normal” being brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 Legislative Council Functional Constituency Election

The polling date for the 2021 Legislative Council Election is 19 December 2021.

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers has set out its guidelines for the provision of services for candidates standing for the  Engineering Functional Constituency (Engineering FC) Election (2021). The guidelines are designed to provide a fair and equal environment for all candidates of the Engineering FC to communicate with their electors. The guidelines are available at the HKIE website.