May I commence this first report in the Year of the Snake by wishing all our members a happy and prosperous new year. Proverbially, the start of a year is a time for resolution. It is therefore hoped that, both at the HKIE and beyond, we will be armed with the firmness of purpose needed to make our way through the year.
One of the highlights of 2025’s beginning was the HKIE Prize Presentation Ceremony cum New Members’ Reception held on 11 January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over 280 attendees, including newly admitted members, awardees, and distinguished guests, came together for celebration. The ceremony honoured long-standing members who have dedicated 50 years to the Institution, recognised the early achievements of budding engineering trainees, and, of course, welcomed new faces into our community. To experience the enthusiasm of new members who will certainly contribute to the Institution’s future was uplifting. I look ahead with eager anticipation for their positive impact on our community.
It pleases me to report that the HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award, whose nomination period ended last month, was met with a favourable response. Such broad participation from members, and from the organisations they work for, speaks unmistakably to our collective faith in the profession’s enduring contributions to the society through over five decades of landmark projects and innovations. The Institution is deeply indebted to all participating parties for lending their support to our campaign to champion this rich legacy of ours.
In January, significant steps were taken to strengthen our engagement both internationally and with the Mainland by forming two new Committees: the International Affairs Committee (IAC) and the Mainland Affairs Committee (MAC). The IAC, chaired by Executive member Ir William Luk, promotes international collaborations and provides strategic direction for global engagement. The MAC, chaired by Vice President Ir Prof Frank Chan, puts emphasis on fostering cooperations with Mainland engineering organisations, facilitating knowledge exchange, and promoting collaboration on engineering projects. With these Committees’ formation, our initiative to expand influence and establish stronger partnerships on both global and regional levels can be realised on a more profound level.
On 3 January, Senior Vice President Ir Alice Chow led a delegation to Zhuhai as part of the Logistics & Transportation Division’s technical visit and sharing session on Low Altitude Economy Development. The delegates included representatives from multiple Divisions, government departments, and professional bodies, demonstrating the exchange’s collaborative spirit. One highlight of the visit was the Mainland’s advanced drone industry, which has developed significantly ahead of Hong Kong. Another was the signing of a MOU between the Logistics & Transportation Division and the 西安交通大學珠海校友會, symbolising a shared commitment to advancing the low-altitude economy in the Greater Bay Area.
Also in January, Vice President Ir Prof Frank Chan attended the International Carbon Trading Roundtable. The event was held at the Asia Society Hong Kong, attended by 中國氣候變化事務特使劉振民, and chaired by Dr Zhou Jinfeng, Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation. The major discussion topics were carbon neutrality, sustainable development, and ESG. The Institution highlights the importance of building a robust carbon trading ecosystem, not just a trading platform, as well as HKIE’s commitment in training carbon trader and auditor.
In December last year, the Institution co-organised the first edition of 粵港澳大灣區市政工程技術交流會 in Guangzhou with China Municipal Engineering Association and the Macau Institution of Engineers. President Ir Eric MA, Executive Member Ir William LUK, and I were among the 60+ participants from Hong Kong, Macau, and the Mainland, with Ir Ma delivering the opening remarks. Themed “智建橋樑‧暢享都市”, the conference boasted erudite presenters delivering insights into urban bridge construction. Representing the Institution, two of our members shared their thoughts on Hong Kong’s innovative use of bridge balance technology and sustainable practices in the Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link. As a paradigm of cross-border collaboration, this event is well worth commending for having brought together a vast array of professional perspectives, from within the Greater Bay Area, on a key topic in our professional practice.
The Institution’s commitment to promoting STEAM education and nurturing young talent was epitomised in two events that it participated in last December. The first—a collaborative initiative by the Development Bureau, Education Bureau, and the Construction Industry Council—was the「想建理」項目啟動禮, which marked the beginning of a scheme that introduces schools to newly compiled construction-themed STEM learning resources. The second was the STEM Career Fair 2025 at City University of Hong Kong, where we set up a booth and attended a networking lunch. Both events shared the noble aspiration to unite the industry and academia in providing our young minds with the resources and pathways that can lead them to join us in the engineering profession. Both lay the necessary groundwork for sustaining our profession, by fostering the next generation of engineers.
On another front, thanks must be extended to members who responded to our call for views on the 2025-26 HKSAR Budget. Your thoughtful input into key areas such as infrastructure development and new industrialisation has been invaluable in shaping the Institution’s submission to the Administration. It is through such collective efforts that we can effectively advocate policies that will be instrumental in our profession’s growth and sustenance.
Since the Institution was incorporated 50 years ago, members’ support has remained a permanent fixture—and an enabler— in all that we seek to do and achieve. In 2025, our 50th Anniversary, the reassurance afforded by such support is needed more than ever. It will be my greatest privilege to enlist your involvement in our initiatives this year.
Vice President Nomination
In preparation for the Vice President election for Session 2025/2026, the Council reviewed and adopted the “Procedures and Schedule for Vice President Nomination”. The nomination period for election of Vice President for Session 2025/2026 is from 4 February to 14 March 2025. A Council meeting (Special) will be held on 24 April 2025 for the candidate(s) to make a presentation to the Council Members before the Council finalises its nominations of Vice President for election by Corporate Members on the day of the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Details of the information and the nomination form are available on the Institution’s website at www.hkie.org.hk during the nomination period.
Election of Honorary Fellows
The Council resolved to elect Ir Dr Andrew CHAN Ka Ching and Ir Prof Alexander WAI Ping Kong as Honorary Fellows of the Institution in recognition of their distinguished achievements and contributions to the engineering and the Institution.
Proposed Recommendations on Governance Review
On the recommendation of the Administration Board, the Council approved proposals from the Working Group on Governance Review.
Proposal of engaging a Duty Counsel for Administration of the Security of Payment Legislation (SOPL) as Adjudicator Nominating Body (ANB)
On the recommendation of the Administration Board, the Council approved the proposal of engaging a Duty Counsel for Administration of the Security of Payment Legislation as Adjudicator Nominating Body.
Memorandum of Understanding initiated by the China Civil Engineering Society
On the recommendation of the Learned Society Board, the Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding initiated by the China Civil Engineering Society.
Unpaid Annual Subscription
The Council resolved to strike off a list of members who have not paid their annual subscriptions for the year 2024/2025 pursuant to Article 13(2) of the Constitution.
Division Annual General Meetings (AGM) of Session 2024/2025
Division AGMs of Session 2024/2025 will be held during early April to mid-May 2025. Circulars for each Divisions’ AGMs will be sent to Division members' registered email addresses via the HKIE eNewsletter system and posted on the websites of both the Institution and Divisions. Members can update their correspondence information and membership status in the Member Login area on the HKIE website or by contacting the Membership Section at member@hkie.org.hk.