The HKIE New Members’ Reception was successfully held on 3 June 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which was well attended by 280 newly admitted members and guests.

President for Session 2022/2023 Ir Aaron K M Bok delivered a speech to all participants, during which he congratulated our members on their accomplishments in their professional career and encouraged them to actively participate in the Institution’s activities. Presentation of membership certificates were also made to Fellow Members and Members who were admitted to the HKIE recently. The presentation ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception.

The event provided a good opportunity for our Past Presidents, Council Members, Division Chairmen and Discipline Representatives to connect with the newly admitted member in a casual atmosphere. Members are invited to share the joyful moments by visiting the website: https://hkie.org.hk/images/PhotoGallery/NewMembersReception/2023/3june/

Members who were admitted to the HKIE recently

「第二屆大灣區工程師論壇」於2023年5月21日在香港會議展覽中 心圓滿舉行，接近400位來自內地、香港及澳門的工程專業人士出席參與，探討區內工程專業未來共同發展的定位、策略和計劃。 席上，與會者就工程界密切關注的熱點話題分享見解及合作成果， 研商在國家「十四五」規劃下加強業界推動區域性建設和發展的投入，助國家實現規劃綱要的目標。

論壇以「工程創新 灣通世界」為主題，由中國科學技術協會、廣東省人民政府、中國工程院作為指導單位，中國工程師聯合體作為主辦單位，廣東省科學技術協會負責論壇組委會秘書處的執行工作，並由內地與港澳有關工程技術領域機構，包括香港工程師學會聯合主辦。

論壇由中國科協副主席、中國機械工業集團有限公司副總經理、總工程師、中國機械工程學會副理事長、中國工程院院士陳學東院士；廣東省委常委、副省長、中國科學院王曦院士；香港特別行政區政府發展局局長甯漢豪女士及學會2022/2023年度會長卜國明工程師主持開幕儀式。

開幕禮上亦發佈了港澳青年工程師內地交流計劃，並倡議發起成立大灣區工程師聯合體。在主禮嘉賓之一的中國科協副主席陳學東院士、國務院港澳辦交流司司長吳煒先生、香港中聯辦教育科技部部長王偉明先生及香港特別行政區政府發展局局長甯漢豪女士的見證下，學會分別與中國工程師聯合體簽署資格互認協議，及廣東省科學技術協會及廣東省機械工程學會簽署合作備忘錄，同時與廣東省土木建築學會及廣東省岩土力學與工程學會簽訂資格互認意向書，進一步推動大灣區工程人才和資源的交流與合作。在這些互認和合作計劃下，學會預期能在內地為不同專業界別的會員帶來更多的機遇和發展空間，讓他們在職涯規劃中有更多的選擇。有意在內地執業或發展工程事業的會員，可透過這些的互認和合作計劃獲得更多便利。香港和內地工程專業資格互認及合作，可促進跨區域的流通，同時加強了香港與內地工程師在專業技術和管理方面等的交流和合作，促進兩地工程業界的長遠融合發展。

主論壇圍繞校企協同創新，培養卓越工程師、中國內地基礎設施建 設發展現狀與趨勢、工程領域產學研融合與先進技術成果推廣應 用及人工智能發展趨勢的題目，由內地與港澳共四位知名院士專家 作主旨報告。

除主論壇外，活動另設三個分論壇，分別以「匠心築夢 — 大灣區青 年工程師成長途徑探討」、「創聯國際 — 工程師互認與工程制度創 新探究」及「灣通世界 — 大灣區工程組織建設創新探索」為議題， 目的為推動內地與港澳工程界交流合作、協同創新、聯通國際，並 且就工程科技支援世界一流灣區建設、深化工程領域產學研融合、 技術成果推廣應用、內地與港澳青年工程師成長成才、工程師資格 互認與工程技術創新要素有序流動等話題進行交流研討。透過這些交流活動，與會者可加深對粵港澳工程界最新發展和相關議題的認識。

國家「十四五」規劃強調發展創新科技和可持續發展，在推動區域性建設和發展上，大灣區的城市都分別加強投入，而香港亦正加快基礎建設的步伐，包括北部都會區、交椅洲人工島等基建項目的陸續展開。透過深化粵港澳三地工程界別的合作，可促進大灣區工程 界交流，容許兩地工程師在當地執業，幫助國家實現規劃綱要的目標。

中國科協副主席、中國機械工業集團有限公司副總經理、總工程師陳學東院士(前排左七)、
香港特別行政區發展局局長甯漢豪女士(前排右八)、學會2022/2023年度會長卜國明工程師
(前排左五)及現任會長李志康博士、工程師(前排左四)等於論壇上合照留念

學會2022/2023年度會長卜國明工程師(中)及現任會長李志康博士、工程師(左一)與中國科協副主席
陳學東院士(右二)、中國工程院院士、廣東省科協主席、廣東省工程師學會會長陳勇院士(左二)及
香港中聯辦教育科技部部長王偉明先生(右一)合照

學會2022/2023年度會長卜國明工程師致辭

在中國科協副主席陳學東院士(左二)、國務院港澳辦交流司司長吳煒先生(右二)、中聯辦教育科技部
部長王偉明先生(左一)及香港特別行政區發展局局長甯漢豪女士(右一)的見證下，中國工程師聯合體
副秘書長何巍女士(右三)與學會2022/2023年度會長卜國明工程師(左三)簽署資格互認協議

約400位來自內地、香港及澳門的工程專業人士出席參與「第二屆大灣區工程師論壇」

學會2022/2023年度北京訪問團於2023年6月18至21日前往北京， 訪問團由2022/2023年度會長卜國明工程師帶領，拜訪內地多個部 委及工程相關機構，包括港澳工作辦公室、住房和城鄉建設部、 商務部、中國工程院、中國科學技術協會，並參觀多項基礎建設及 重點項目。 除了學會的執行委員會成員外，工程業界先驅及行業翹楚等廿餘人亦一同出發。行程獲中聯辦協助安排，並得教育科技部葉水球部長等隨行。是次行程除了讓各相關組織和單位能更深入瞭解目前國家重要工程發展方向，亦就相關議題進行深入交流，並探討當中為工程師及工程業界帶來的挑戰和發展機遇。

2023年6月18日 (第一天)

訪問團中午啟程前往北京，到步後團員積極商討未來幾天與各部委和單位會面時所涉及的議題和內容，為爭取在會面時取得有效的成果而做好準備工作。

2023年6月19日 (第二天)

訪問團上午拜訪住房和城鄉建設部，獲計劃財務與外事司副司長李喆接見。席間雙方就香港工程師如何在城市規劃和建設中發揮更積極的作用、香港和內地在城市基礎設施、住房、土地資源等方面的合作機會和前景等議題進行了豐富的討論。訪問團又表達了希望 進一步擴大香港工程師專業與內地專業資格的互認。

大隊隨後前往港澳工作辦公室，獲吳煒司長接見。討論中雙方探討香港和內地在政治、經濟、文化等方面的合作和交流以及分享 「十四五規劃」對工程界別的規劃和指導。

午後，訪問團繼續行程，前往中國工程院，獲王辰副院長接見。雙方 就如何促進香港和內地在工程科技領域的合作，包括智慧製造、 人工智慧、新能源等作深入討論，並探討如何加強青年工程師的交流和培養，例如邀請內地院士到香港參與論壇等，以促進工程科技領域的人才培養和合作。

其後，訪問團前往中國建築設計研究院院史館及創新科研示範中心，與崔熙院士及任慶英結構大師會面。

晚上學會代表團宴請拜訪單位代表。

2023年6月20日 (第三天)

訪問團上午前往商務部，獲台港澳司副司長左祥華接見，雙方討論 多項重要議題，包括如何加強內地企業和香港工程師之間的合作， 促進技術和服務的交流，以及香港的工程師及工程業界怎樣可以參與一帶一路的發展，在配合國家的「走出去」戰略的方向下，香港工程師如何能夠參與更多國企的溝通以及海外市場考察等，從而擴大內地和香港工程界的影響力。會面期間，與會訪問團團員積極發表意見。

會後，訪問團前往拜訪中國科學技術協會，榮幸獲黨組書記賀軍科親自接見，雙方討論如何促進香港和內地在科學技術領域的合作， 訪問團並分享了香港在科學技術領域的經驗和技術，促進科技創新和應用。

會面後訪問團更獲得中國科學技術協會設宴招待。

訪問團在下午時段繼續前往考察，包括中國建築科學研究院「近零能耗示範樓」、冬奧村及國家會議中心二期。

2023年6月21日 (第四天)

訪問團在北京最後一日的行程，主要為參訪北京市規劃展覽館， 北京既是歷史名城，具有數百年的文化底蘊，亦有不少現代建築， 展覽館以不同種類的展品，展示出北京悠久的歷史，以及首都城市規劃建設。

訪問團下午結束一連四天的行程，返回香港。

In late May 2023, it was revealed that the owner of a flat in a private residential complex, in renovating the flat, had removed part of a structural wall in it. The building works in question were alleged to have modified the structure of the entire building and compromised its integrity.

As the incident raised issues of public significance and had attracted broad notice from the public sphere, the Institution held a press conference in the HKIE Headquarters on 31 May 2023 to address some common concerns in relation to the incident. The then President, Ir Aaron Bok, Senior Vice President, Ir Dr Barry Lee, Structural Division Deputy Chairman, Ir Kevin Tang, and Structural Division Honorary Secretary, Ir Chin Sai-ping, for Session 2022/2023, were present to present the Institution’s views and answered questions from media representatives. Among the topics discussed were the potential risks of the removal in terms of structural safety, potential restoration options, small-scale works that customarily qualify for exemption, and the major pitfalls to be avoided in residential renovation.

In the press conference, it was explained that a significant number of flat owners would alter their flats’ existing floor plan for practicality purposes. Many of the commonly observed interior construction works (such as those of open kitchen units and mezzanines) may involve structural modifications. However, determining whether a building plan submission needs to be made to the Buildings Department for a particular modification is not always a straightforward matter for flat owners. They were therefore encouraged to consult qualified professionals about the alterations at issue so as to ensure the building’s structural safety and steer clear of breaking the law.

The presenters emphasised, in particular, the central role that prudence should play in decisions to make structural modifications of any kind, whether the decision is the flat owner’s, the interior designer’s, or the contractor’s. In any event, a structural engineer must be consulted; in this connection, the Building Department’s website contains a list of registered structural engineers for the reference of all the parties involved.

In closing, Ir Bok said that this incident was the result of the appropriate consultation not having been made with a professional engineer. Industry practitioners were urged to stay mentally vigilant against any possible threats to the safety of those they serve as well as the community as a whole.

(L to R) The then Senior Vice President, Ir Dr Barry Lee, The then President, Ir Aaron Bok, Structural Division Deputy Chairman, Ir Kevin Tang, and Structural Division Honorary Secretary, Ir Chin Sai-ping, for Session 2022/2023

The 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held successfully on 28 June 2023, marked the end of the Presidential Session 2022/2023 and brought down the curtain on Ir Aaron Bok’s eventful term of office as President of the HKIE.

On 23 June 2023, Ir Bok invited a group of media representatives to a gathering at the Craigengower Cricket Club (C.C.C.). The attendees, who represented a diverse spectrum of news media, had previously struck up an acquaintanceship with Ir Bok during his presidency while following the Institution's key events over the Session. The purpose of the gathering was to provide Ir Bok with the opportunity to thank the attendees in person for their support in propagating the Institution’s vision.

The gathering began in a casual manner, with Ir Bok and the media representatives exchanging ideas on various topics related to the engineering industry, media landscape, and Hong Kong’s development. After a brief introduction where Ir Bok shared the Institution’s accomplishments under his leadership, including Hong Kong Engineers Week 2023, the new theme song ‘傲程 Proud to be Engineers’, the new KOL ‘Hally’, the ‘Engineers on Campus 工程伴理行’ programme, and interactive activities with counterparts outside Hong Kong, etc., Ir Bok answered the representatives’ questions. The questions largely focused on the manpower shortage faced by Hong Kong’s engineering industry and how the Institution is addressing this issue with its initiatives. The Institution’s three reports promulgated last year (which address exactly the same subject), talent-trawling efforts and Reciprocal Recognition Agreements with engineering-related institutions around the world were also discussed.

Throughout the gathering, Ir Bok spoke as if among friends, which strengthened the bond between the press and the Institution.

President for Session 2022/2023 Ir Aaron Bok (3rd left) at lunch with media representatives

Ir Bok holding the “Proud to be Engineers” pin

During the question-and-answer session