Obituary

In memory of Ir Graham John OSBORNE

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers expresses its sorrow at the passing of Ir Graham John OSBORNE, who passed away peacefully on 20 October 2024 at the age of 95.

Born in Birmingham, England, in 1929, Graham studied at Enfield Technical College (now Middlesex University) and completed an apprenticeship with Edison Swan before serving in the Royal Air Force as a Flight Lieutenant in the Airfield Construction Branch. He was stationed in East Africa and the Suez Canal Zone before his appointment as Executive Engineer (Electrical and Mechanical) to the British Somaliland Protectorate in 1958. In 1960, Graham joined the Hong Kong Government as a Mechanical Engineer in the Electrical and Mechanical Office of the Public Works Department, beginning a 28-year career in the Hong Kong civil service.

Graham’s skills and dedication to public service led to several promotions: to Senior Mechanical Engineer in 1967, Chief Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in 1975, Principal Government Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in 1978, and Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services in 1982. As Director, he played a key role in emergency responses and guided the Government through technological advancements. His knowledge in electrical, mechanical, building services, and gas and nuclear engineering helped ensure that Hong Kong’s infrastructure and safety standards kept pace with its development.

Graham was respected by his colleagues and staff for his focus on their welfare and efforts to promote effective working relationships. His leadership fostered strong support and loyalty within his department.

Beyond his government service, Graham contributed significantly to the engineering profession. A supporter of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers since 1977, he served as a Council Member for nine years, Vice President from 1981 to 1984, and President in 1985. He was instrumental in acquiring the Institution’s current Headquarters in the early 1980s—a legacy for which he will always be remembered. He also chaired the Advisory Committee on Mechanical and Marine Engineering for over 12 years at the Hong Kong Polytechnic, helping to shape educational programmes to meet community needs. His commitment to nurturing engineering talent included teaching and mentoring roles at the Hong Kong Technical College.

In recognition of his service, Graham was appointed an Official Justice of the Peace in 1979 and received the Companion of the Imperial Service Order from Queen Elizabeth II in 1985.

Graham is survived by his wife Vitti, their son Nigel, two daughters from his previous marriage, Wendy and Julia, and three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Obituary

In memory of Ir IP Pak Nin

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers expresses our deepest sorrow over the passing away of Ir IP Pak Nin on 30 October 2024. Much of our fond memories about Ir IP stem from his great knowledge in engineering, his selfless devotion to the profession, his patience and dedication to empowering the younger generation.

Ir IP served the HKIE as the Chairman of Electrical Division for Session 2004/2005 and on numerous professional and technical boards. During his tenure as the Chairman and his long service in the Division, Ir IP paid particular attention to building strong collaboration with trade and industry. Ir IP devoted himself fully as an electrical engineer in the power supply industry for over 35 years. Guided by the motto “Continuous learning. Build on your strengths and differentiate yourself from your peers”, and drawing from his career experience, his inspiration helped to support the development of our professional engineers.

Being recognised by his own profession, Ir IP was appointed to the Chairman of Electrical Discipline Advisory Panel, steering qualification standard for training and admission of electrical engineers from 2013 to 2016.

Ir IP’s tireless dedication to supporting others drove all of these accomplishments. He consistently prioritised the needs and desires of others above his own. The knowledge and compassion he shared will be passed on and treasured by many.

Ir IP is survived by his wife and precious daughter. He will be deeply missed by his fellow engineers who had the privilege of knowing him.

May his soul rest in peace.

The Engineering Council (UK) implemented “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 United Kingdom. The HKIE is a signatory to the Washington Accord and the HKIE recognizes 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.

With effect from 1 March 2004, the “SARTOR3” system has been replaced by the “UK-SPEC”. The Engineering Council (UK) has revised UK-SPEC and has implemented it from 31 December 2021. The academic requirements for Chartered Engineers (CEng) Registration are:

1. An accredited Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology, plus either an appropriate Masters degree or engineering doctorate accredited by a Licensee*, or appropriate further learning to Masters level
2. An accredited integrated MEng degree
3. An accredited Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology started before September 1999
4. Equivalent qualifications or apprenticeships accredited or approved by a Licensee*, or at an equivalent level in a relevant national or international qualifications framework

* Licensee is the engineering institutions that have been licensed by the Engineering Council (UK) to assess individuals for professional registration.

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 (i) to (iii) above 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.

Starting from Financial Year 2024-2025, Corporate Members (Fellows, Members) and Associate Members can access their e-membership card in the Member Login Area under “Services” > “My Membership Card” five working days after the settlement of membership subscription for that financial year.

In addition to the issue of e-membership card, Corporate and Associate Members in need will be offered a choice of receiving a physical membership card for use upon entering construction sites. The statement “This member of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers has satisfied the Commissioner for Labour in respect of Section 6BA(4), Cap. 59” will be included in the physical membership card only.

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 “Discipline-Specific Technical Matters” (DSTM) and “Broader Areas of Studies” (BAS) or “General Professional Matters” (GPM). In 2021, the HKIE further updated the CPD requirements for its members. Corporate Members are required to attend at least 3 hours per year of CPD activities related to “Health and Safety” (H&S) effective for CPD declaration from 2022 onwards.

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 will receive a warning letter if they fail to comply with the CPD requirement for the first year that they were selected for sampling, and will be asked to submit their CPD attainment again for the following year; 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;
2. Corporate Members who fail to comply with the CPD requirement again in the second year may be asked to submit their CPD attainment for the following year and be invited to an interview with CPD Committee Representative(s) or to attend specific HKIE CPD activities proposed by the CPDCSP; and
3. Corporate Members who fail to attend interview or the specific HKIE CPD activities in the third year may have their names published in the HKIE website and the HKIE journal; the frequency of which shall be determined by the CPDC.

For details, please refer to the “Guidance Notes for Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Corporate Members” which is available on the HKIE website at https://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 for information:

• Occupational Safety & Health Council (https://www.oshc.org.hk/eng/main/training/)
• Construction Industry Council (https://www.cic.hk/eng/main/safety-corner/)
• HKIE Safety Specialist Committee (http://ssc.hkie.org.hk/)

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$420 (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$420; all arrears in subscription shall be waived. All other requirements for reinstatement of membership shall remain unchanged.

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 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 future 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

HKIE Transactions is an international journal that provides a forum for discussing all aspects of engineering from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Full-length papers, technical notes and discussions on any topic of engineering are always welcome. If your expertise is in any aspects of engineering including but not limited to 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 read the submission guidelines at: https://www.hkie.org.hk/hkietransactions/instructions-for-authors for the Instructions for Authors and Referencing Style.

The journal is now paper-free and subscription-free. Published papers are now at http://www.hkie.org.hk/hkietransactions for all you can read!

Enquiries

hkietransactions@hkie.org.hk

The HKIE Transactions Committee is honoured to announce that Ir Prof Horace MUI Kwok Wai, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has accepted our invitation to be the Guest Editors for the Theme Issue in the HKIE Transactions on the topic “Transforming Buildings for Smart and Healthy Indoor Environments”. This Theme Issue will be published in the HKIE Transactions in June 2025. You are invited to submit manuscripts to this Theme Issue. Detailed information is as follows:

Introduction

This theme issue focuses on exploring innovative approaches and technologies that promote building intelligence, comfort, and well-being. It aims to provide a platform for researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals to share insights, research findings, case studies, and best practices that contribute to the transformation of buildings into smart, sustainable, and healthy spaces. The articles published will explore various aspects of smart and healthy living, including but not limited to topics such as intelligent building automation systems, sustainable design practices, advanced sensor networks, occupant behaviour modelling, indoor environmental quality assessment and management, energy-efficient technologies, and human-centric building environments. By highlighting the integration of cutting-edge technologies and design strategies, this theme seeks to advance knowledge and foster discussions on creating environments that not only optimise energy usage but also prioritise occupant well-being, comfort, and productivity.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following scopes:

• Intelligent building automation systems
• Sustainable design practices
• Use of advanced sensor networks for real-time monitoring
• Modeling occupant behaviour for optimised performance
• Assessing and managing indoor environmental quality
• Exploring energy-efficient technologies
• Designing human-centric building environments
• Utilising data analytics for building performance optimisation
• Applying smart materials and technologies in building systems
• Sharing case studies and best practices

The aim is to foster knowledge exchange and discussion towards creating smart, sustainable, and healthy indoor spaces that prioritise occupant well-being, comfort, and productivity.

Submission Guidelines

The deadline for final manuscript submission is Tuesday, 31 December 2024. All manuscripts should be submitted through the HKIE Transactions ScholarOne Manuscripts site at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/thie. New users should first create a login account. Once logged on to the site, submissions should be made via the Author Centre. For more details regarding the author guidelines, please refer to the Instructions for Authors and Referencing Style.

More details

To know more about this Theme Issue, please, please visit: https://hkie.org.hk/hkietransactions/Tenth-Theme-Issue 

Enquiry

If you have any enquiries regarding this Theme Issue, please feel free to contact the HKIE Corporate Communications Section at +852 2895 4446 or via email at hkietransactions@hkie.org.hk.

Thank you in advance for your support to HKIE Transactions and we look forward to receiving your submissions soon.

Remarks:

1. The HKIE Transactions reserves the right to withhold any or all of the manuscripts at their absolute discretion.

2. The HKIE Transactions’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

“Proud to be Engineers” lapel pin

This golden, square-shaped lapel pin (equipped with a butterfly clutch) features the Simplified Dragon Coat of Arms at its centre and the words “Proud to be Engineers” — the Presidential Theme of Session 2022/2023 — on the sides. This simple but elegant design matches well with a suit and gives the pin’s wearers a sleek appearance that makes them proudly and instantly recognisable as engineers. The pin is available for sale at HK$100 each.

HKIE lady scarf

HKIE ties

With an eye-catching and stylish design, the HKIE Ties are among the most popular souvenirs for our members. Three 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 or monogram pattern, the ties are timeless accessories for fellow engineers and suitable for every occasion. The three 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 31 October 2024

By Ir Prof P L YUEN

It is my honor to share with you the achievements that the Engineering Forum (EF) had made in 2023/2024 and its upcoming pivotal changes.

In 2023/2024, EF held activities that contributed to one of its objectives: “to promote and advance the general education, understanding, appreciation and interest of and in engineering and subjects in connection with engineering for the benefit of the general public”.

The first was the delegation to Greater Bay Area (GBA) which took place in December 2023. In light of the rapid Innovation & Technology (I&T) development in GBA, a delegation of 20 EF members, including our Directors, visited various locations in the Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Dongguan City, such as the Hengqin-Macao Inno Valley HQ (橫琴．澳門青年 創業谷), scientific lab of Zhongshan Institute of Changchun University of Science and Technology (長春理工大學中山研究 院科研實驗室) and Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link (深中通道). We were especially grateful to the Guangdong Association for Science and Technology (廣東省科學技術協會), Zhuhai Association for Science and Technology (珠海市科學技術協會) and Zhongshan Association for Science and technology (中山市科學技術協會) for receiving the delegation. We hope that members would benefit from the networks established, the insights gained, and the collaborative opportunities that would lie ahead.

The second was the 2024 Infrastructure Building Competition (IBC) for Secondary School Students. Following the successful experience and positive feedback from the 2023 IBC, EF co-organised the event for the second year with the Hong Kong Construction Association and other professional bodies. This Competition aimed to raise awareness and interest in engineering subjects among secondary students through the creation of infrastructural models. In addition to providing sponsorship, one of our Directors, Ir Gilbert Law, represented EF on the organising committee. The competition was well-received, with 100 teams from various secondary schools participating. It helped hone students’ persistence, sense of adventure, teamwork, and communication skills, all of which were conducive to their academic and career development.

EF has consistently acted effectively and promptly on behalf of engineers and the engineering industry since its establishment in 2011. Founded to articulate engineers’ perspectives on community affairs and professional issues, EF aims to promote and advance general education, understanding, appreciation, and interest in engineering and related subjects for the benefit of the public. Given the changes and developments in society over the past few years, the missions of EF are now considered accomplished. Therefore, after due consideration, it was resolved at EF’s 13th AGM that the Forum will enter a dormant stage starting in January 2025.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Board of Directors for their diligent works in public relations, editorial research and decisions making, as well as the Secretariat for their essential administrative support that had kept the Forum’s momentum going.

Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to all EF members who entrusted me with the chairmanship of EF over the past four years and I wish you all every success in your future endeavors.