The Building Services (BS) Division of HKIE recently released the final report of a research study on Hong Kong's building services profession, which was conducted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

While I appreciate the efforts made by the university in conducting the study, I have reservations about a number of points raised in the report. Firstly, paragraph 8.5.2 of the report states that the one-country two-system arrangement that applies to Hong Kong SAR will expire in 2047, and that the education system and professional practices in Hong Kong should by that time become no different from those in the Mainland. I would like to point out that Article 5 of the Basic Law only states that the socialist system shall not be practised in Hong Kong and that the previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years. Does this statement automatically mean that after 50 years, everything in Hong Kong will be changed and Hong Kong's system will be aligned with that of the Mainland?

Secondly, paragraph 8.5.1 of the report seems not to support, or at least ignore, a number of changes that are long overdue in Hong Kong, namely the requirements for qualified BSEs to certify the design of ventilation, plumbing and vertical transportation systems and to participate in mandatory building inspections. Recall the many occasions where we have come across buildings with insufficient air-conditioning, poor water supplies due to weak pressure, unhealthy sanitary systems and/or inadequate lifts. In many cases, the problems could be attributed to complicated systems being designed/maintained by people of inappropriate discipline/level of knowledge. The report is very good at pointing out that the Singaporean system requires professional M&E engineers to certify the concerned aspects of building design. However, it does not go one step further in recommending the necessary changes in Hong Kong. So, are we really making adequate changes for the betterment of Hong Kong?

Ir Eddy W T Lau
(BS Div's response is published in this month's Building Services Blog, on page 20.)