In early August, we submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations to the HKSAR Chief Executive for consideration in the formulation of the 2023 Policy Address. These recommendations were carefully crafted to address the important areas for our engineering industry and the society of Hong Kong.
One key recommendation is to accelerate talent training. We propose increasing subsidies to companies participating in our HKIE Scheme “A” Graduate Training and expanding the subsidised quota. We also suggest offering subsidies to companies employing overseas graduates and establishing initiatives to reach out to engineering graduates abroad. These measures aim to enhance Hong Kong’s engineering capabilities and attract global talent.
Education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of engineering. That’s why we recommend reviewing the efforts invested on developing local talent pool and expanding initiatives like our “Back to School” scheme to generate interest in engineering among students. Additionally, we emphasise providing extra support to teachers in introducing engineering practices in the current curriculum.
Another important aspect is promoting innovation and new industrialisation for economic growth. We suggest relaxing regulations to incentivise research and development activities and advocate for incentives that encourage enterprises to recruit local engineers and technologists, along with the granting of land directly for innovation projects. These measures aim to foster a culture of creativity and establish Hong Kong as a global hub for technological advancement.
Efficient infrastructure development is essential for Hong Kong’s growth. Attracting talent from other regions and embracing new technologies and construction methods can broaden our engineer base and streamline construction processes. Simplifying government submission and approval processes can further expedite infrastructure projects.
Addressing the challenges related to land and housing supply is another priority. To speed up the planning, design, and construction stages of housing projects, we suggest reviewing the approval mechanisms and prioritising the allocation of different types of housing units. These could help meet the diverse housing needs of the population and alleviate the pressure on housing affordability.
We remain committed to collaborating with the Government and various sectors to advance Hong Kong's engineering industry, and utilising our professional engineering knowledge and expertise to contribute to the overall development of the city.
We express our hope for the Administration to carefully consider our recommendations, which have been formulated with the best interests of the engineering industry and Hong Kong’s overall development in mind. We issued a press release to communicate our views and suggestions to the public.
We recognise the importance of strengthening cooperation and promoting dialogues to expand the mutual recognition of professional qualifications into more engineering disciplines for our members. We also attach great importance on collaboration and knowledge sharing. Therefore, we have recently been actively engaged in visits and exchanges with engineers from different regions including the Greater Bay Area (GBA), in the hope of promoting engineering excellence and fostering partnerships.
President Ir Dr Barry Lee led a delegation of over 40 young engineers on a visit to Guangzhou in mid-August. The delegation visited local companies and had interactions with the young engineers from the GBA. The President also hosted the “HKIE Cocktail Reception 2023@Guangzhou”, which received an enthusiastic response. The event brought together over a hundred participants, fostering closer ties among the engineering community in the GBA. To strengthen the bonds between Hong Kong and the Area, the President has already made three visits to the Area within the past month. October will be a busy month for HKIE. The Institution will participate in the career fairs hosted by the Development Bureau in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. It will also co-organise a seminar with Shanghai Association for Science & Technology to discuss the collaboration between Shanghai and Hong Kong. In November, the Institution will participate in the “International Engineering Education Symposium 2023 - China Week” in Ningbo, under the theme “Unleashing Potentials, Empowering Future: Embracing Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies”. The event is hosted by the China Engineering Education Accreditation Association, and co-organised by HKIE and The Institution of Engineers, Singapore. Furthermore, another delegation to visit Beijing will be scheduled for January next year.
Our goal behind all these occasions is to provide our members with opportunities to explore potential markets and establish regional partnerships, thereby contributing to the development of engineering profession in the Mainland.
In addition to our efforts in the Mainland, we are planning visits to other regions such as the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Stockholm to explore talent and potential collaborations. These visits demonstrate our dedication to expanding our talent pool and forging international partnerships.
We recently organised a gathering to foster closer ties with the media and enhance public engagement. With the assistance of the media, the Institution shares its expertise, professional knowledge and advice to the general public. In light of a series of incidents caused by ageing buildings resulting in injuries of pedestrians or property damage, the Institution has organised a series of events under the theme “The building is sick”. For details of the events, please visit page 26.
Furthermore, we are proud to launch of our Professional Certification Mechanism, starting with the accreditation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) qualifications. This initiative ensures that our members possess recognised expertise in emerging technologies. We have also partnered with the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to promote professional training in this area.
We not only care about our members’ professional development, but also strive to provide added value and better serve our members. We are pleased to announce that the HKIE Members’ Benefits Scheme has been enhanced. For more information about the Scheme, please refer to page 23.
The Institution takes pride in our active role in shaping policies, fostering collaborations, expanding our professional horizons and providing a supportive environment for our members. Together, we contribute to the growth and development of our engineering community and Hong Kong as a whole.