Ir Hon Chi-keung Chief Executive and Secretary

Looking back at what we achieved in 2020, and the ebb and flow of the COVID-19 pandemic, we rose to the challenge by working incessantly in fighting the coronavirus while sustaining our belief in the theme for this Session, that is, “Believing is seeing - Innovation for transformation”, as underpinned by the President.

As a unique engineering institution in Hong Kong, we stand with the community in this unprecedentedly difficult time. We have spared no efforts in deploying our engineering expertise; worked in many ways by offering our professional views and sharing innovative suggestions to facilitate public understanding of topical issues via media enquiries and interviews. Throughout the year, we used our best endeavours to help cheering people up and support industry practitioners.

We distributed masks to members, raised funds for the Construction Industry Council (CIC)’s campaign to help those local industry practitioners in need, and stood together with the people of Hong Kong through thick and thin. In accomplishing our mission of advancing the engineering profession at all levels with particular emphasis on innovation and transformation, we held our first tailor-made talk for primary students under the School Ambassadors Programme in January; co-organised with the Institution of Civil Engineers Hong Kong Association to carry out the “Proud to be Women in Engineering Photo Challenge”; concluded the HKIE Colouring and Photo Competitions in June; and most importantly kicked off our innovative programmes for Session 2020/2021 in September.

These were just some highlights of 2020. Now, if we look ahead to the brighter tomorrow, we will be embarking on a number of actions to invigorate the Institution including pursuing digitalisation, enhancing service to members, boosting professionalism, facilitating innovation and undertaking governance review. So please stay tuned with the upcoming developments and make your contributions to what will affect the Institution in the years to come.

Together, let’s bring all hands on deck and set sail to a brighter future for our Institution, the engineering profession and our beloved community.

January

• The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) paid a courtesy visit to the Institution on 7 January 2020.
  

• The HKIE New Members’ Reception cum Prize Presentation Ceremony of Session 2019/2020 was successfully held on 10 January 2020 at the Hong Kong Club. Various awards were presented.
  

• The Institution extended the HKIE School Ambassadors Programme to primary schools and the first tailor-made talk was organised for St Stephen’s College Preparatory School on the topic of “What is an Engineer?” on 17 January 2020.
  

• After a series of revamp to enhance the reading experience, the new face of Hong Kong Engineer and its digital version of the Hong Kong Engineer Online were rolled out with the January 2020 issue. Many members have switched to the digital version since then, helping the Institution reduce paper consumption and its carbon footprint to protect the environment.

March

• As a supporting member of the proposal of the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development and a member of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, the Institution promoted via the media the establishment of the World Engineering Day which is on 4 March of every year.

• In early March, the Institution participated in the production of a song named “疫境同行” with the hope of filling everyone with positive energy to fight against COVID-19.
  

• The Institution distributed the masks passed on by Ir Dr The Hon W K Lo from donors to HKIE members.

• To support workers of the construction industry through the difficult times, HKIE members were encouraged to support the CIC’s fundraising campaign, and Ir Ringo Yu, President for Session 2019/2020, offered to match the donation made by HKIE members on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to a maximum of HK$300,000.

• The Institution was awarded the Caring Organisation Logo for the 16th consecutive year from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, in recognition of the Institution’s commitment to caring for the community, the employees and the environment over the past years.

• The Institution was awarded the “Construction Caring Organisations” logo launched by the Construction Industry Sports & Volunteering Programme of the CIC, in recognition of the Institution’s commitment to serving the industry and community, and devotion to promoting corporate social responsibility.

• The renewal of Reciprocal Recognition Agreements (RRAs) with the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) was completed and took effect from 1 March 2020. The Environmental Discipline was newly included in the RRA at Associate Member level, which also covered the Building Services, Control, Automation & Instrumentation, Electrical, Manufacturing & Industrial (now Manufacturing, Industrial & Systems) and Mechanical Disciplines.

April

• Ir Ringo Yu, President for Session 2019/2020, joined hands with government departments and the construction sector once again to record another song named “抗疫同舟” to support industry practitioners to overcome the difficult times.

• A new e-service was launched for Graduate Members undergoing Scheme “A” Training, enabling current Graduate Members who commenced their Scheme “A” Training on or after 1 April 2010 to retrieve a computer-generated copy of their Scheme “A” record from the Member Login Area of the HKIE website.

• A survey report studying the training and development needs of engineers was prepared and published online.

June

• The 45th Annual General Meeting was held on 23 June 2020. President Ir Prof P L Yuen highlighted some of his work plan for the new Session with members.
  

• The Manufacturing & Industrial Division/Discipline were renamed as “Manufacturing, Industrial & Systems Division (MI Division)/Discipline (MIS Discipline)” respectively effective from the commencement of Session 2020/2021.

• A new Student Chapter in the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong was set up as the 11th Student Chapter of the HKIE.

• The International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) takes place annually on 23 June. Under the theme of “Shape the World”, the HKIE Task Force on Women in Engineering co-organised the “Proud to be Women in Engineering Photo Challenge” (#ProudToBeWIE) along with the Institution of Civil Engineers Hong Kong Association.

• The International Engineering Alliance Meetings 2020 and Seoul Accord Mid-term Meeting 2020 were organised virtually on 22 - 26 June 2020 and 25 - 26 June 2020 respectively.

• The HKIE “Engineering Our Future” Colouring Competition for primary school students and “The Engineer’s Vision” Photo Competition for the public and HKIE members were joyfully concluded at a Prize Presentation Ceremony held on 27 June 2020.
  
  Prizes were presented to the winners at the Ceremony. The award-winning entries were exhibited on the same day.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A roving exhibition of the winning entries of the Competitions was organised from July to October 2020 at the Main Lobby of the Hong Kong Science Museum, the MTR Community Art Gallery at Wan Chai Station, Foyer Exhibition Area at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Covered Piazza at Times Square Hong Kong.
  
  
  
  
  

• Experts from relevant Disciplines contributed to the updating of the booklet “公眾安全系列指南：樓宇保養維修” to assist the public in dealing more effectively with common problems of drainage pipes, sewage pipes and other building services.

July

• 12 young members were selected as President’s Protégés to shadow and work with the President and were given the opportunity to interact with other leading engineering professionals.

• On 15 July 2020, President Ir Prof P L Yuen together with other Hong Kong’s construction and engineering counterparts and architectural sector attended a briefing session organised by the Development Bureau, the HKSAR Government about the range of new measures brought about under the “Interim Guidelines for the Management of Hong Kong Engineering Construction Consultant Enterprises and Professionals Starting Business and Practising in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cities”.

September

• To mark the launch of the meaningful programmes for Session 2020/2021, the “Championing Innovation” Kick-off Ceremony was held on 28 September 2020 at the Eaton Club in Central. The “Innovation Roadmap for Engineers” prepared by the President and a number of engineers with extensive experience in their innovation journeys were introduced at the Ceremony, and can be viewed via the QR code below.
  
  
  

October

• President Ir Prof P L Yuen delivered his Presidential Address online, and the video is available via the QR code below.
  
  
  

• Mrs Monica Yuen, the then Chief Executive and Secretary retired after serving the Institution for 23 years. The Institution welcomed Ir Hon Chi-keung, the current Chief Executive and Secretary and Ir Eva Kong, the newly appointed Director on board.

• A hybrid briefing session for the School Ambassadors of the HKIE School Ambassadors Programme was held on 27 October 2020.

December

• Awardees of The HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Young Engineers/Researchers 2020 presented their awarded papers and accomplishments at a Public Lecture online on 11 December 2020.
  

During 2020, the Institution received 62 invitations from government departments and other organisations for nominations of HKIE representatives to serve on their boards/committees. A total of 129 members were nominated. The HKIE also responded to seven consultation documents issued by government departments, the Legislative Council and external organisations.