If you choose to listen to this article, you are welcome to download the PDF version of the Journal (January 2025 issue) and activate the "Read Out Loud" function in Adobe Reader. For more details, please read the user's note.

 

2024 was a remarkable year for the Institution, punctuated by collaborations and initiatives that reinforced our role as a leading voice in the engineering profession. Guided by our vision to foster innovation, sustainability, and professional excellence, we seized what opportunities there were to contribute to social discourse while strengthening ties with stakeholders locally, regionally, and internationally.

 

Throughout the year, the Institution continued to promote the profession and celebrate our members’ accomplishments. From hosting large-scale celebratory events such as the Hong Kong Engineers Week (HKEW) 2024 to recognising outstanding engineering talent through widely acclaimed awards, we showcased our practitioners’ dedication and ingenuity in shaping a better future. Through active engagement with policymakers and industry leaders, we strove to remain at the forefront of addressing societal challenges, from climate change to urban development.

 

2024 also saw us expanding our global footprint through delegations, strategic partnerships, and participation in international conferences. Apart from enhancing professional exchange, these efforts also bespoke our determination to solidify Hong Kong’s status as a world-recognised hub for engineering excellence. At home, we continued in our mission to support members’ professional development through new qualifications and other programmes tailored to equip them with the skills needed for an ever-evolving industry.

 

In the following month-by-month overview, the key milestones and activities forming our imprints in 2024 have been enumerated; May I invite you all to review and reflect on what we accomplished together last year.

 

January

 

• The HKIE Prize Presentation Ceremony cum New Members’ Reception was held on 13 January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The HKIE Scholarship, the HKIE Prize for Outstanding Engineering Students 2022/2023, and the Trainee of the Year Award 2023 were also presented.

 

 

 

 

• A press conference was convened on 16 January to preview the diverse activities lined up for the Hong Kong Engineers Week (HKEW) 2024.

 

 

• From 19 to 20 January, the Institution, the Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology, and the Macau Institute of Engineers led over 60 young engineers from Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau on an educational delegation to Beijing and Tianjin.

 

 

• In collaboration with the Development Bureau and the trade, the Institution organised a visit to the UK headed by Past President Ir Aaron Bok from 30 January to 2 February to pursue a talent-scouting mission.

 

• On 30 January, the Institution participated in the career fair at City University of Hong Kong, which boasted a total of 70 local and multinational corporations as exhibitors and almost 3,000 job and internship openings.

 

• The Institution launched its official WeChat account “香港工程師學會”.

 

February

 

• The Institution organised a media gathering on 1 February to share its views and proposals from the perspective of the engineering sector regarding the formulation of the Financial Secretary’s 2024-25 Budget.

 

 

• On 23 February, a briefing session on Basic Law Article 23 legislation was held to facilitate members’ understanding of the legislation.

 

 

• On 28 February, the Institution responded to the Financial Secretary’s 2024-25 Budget in six areas, ranging from “Building a Smart, Green, and Resilient City” to “Promoting Innovation and Technology and New Industrialisation”, in which some of our recommendations had been adopted.

 

March

 

• From 1 to 15 March, the HKEW 2024 was held under the theme “Be the Change ‧ 不一樣” to celebrate the engineers’ contributions and achievements. Its events include the HKEW Carnival at West Kowloon harbourside lawn from 3 to 5 March, GBA Tertiary Institution Innovation Project Invitational Competition on 9 March, and the HKIE Grand Award Presentation Ceremony on 15 March.

 

 

 

 

• The HKIE 46th Annual Dinner was held on 15 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presentations were made of The HKIE Honorary Fellow, The HKIE Gold Medal, The President’s Award, The Young Engineer of the Year Award, and the HKIE Grand Award.

 

 

• The commemorative booklet for the HKEW 2024 was published on 15 March.

 

• A series of career fairs were organised at seven tertiary institutions throughout February and March 2024 to support tertiary students pursuing engineering studies and assist them in their career paths.

 

 

• The Institution has been awarded the Caring Organisation Logo 2023/2024 from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) for participating in their programmes for 20 consecutive years since 2004.

 

• On 19 March, the first batch of Engineering BIM Professionals (Eng BIM Pro) and Engineering BIM Coordinators (Eng BIM Coord) were presented with certificates, marking a milestone in the Institution’s commitment to assisting members with qualification acquisition.

 

• The Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Forum 2024 was held on 26 and 27 March. The Institution cooperated with Mainland-based parties to catalyse this important event, to which many other professional associations and the trade also contributed significantly.

 

 

April

 

• On 6 April, a sharing session was held on The Two Sessions 2024 to acquaint members with the essential of the Sessions and the spirit conveyed in them.

 

 

• From 7 to 13 April, a visit to Canada with university talks was led by Past President Ir Aaron Bok and supported by his two of his Protégés to heighten exchange with our Canadian counterparts.

 

 

• On 13 April, a dissemination seminar on 粵港澳大灣區港澳 工程專業人才職稱評審 attended by over 90 members was held in the Headquarters. The seminar marked the Institution’s achievement of being the first professional body that assists its members in applying for Mainland professional titles (職稱) corresponding to Civil, Geotechnical, Electrical, and Control, Automation & Instrumentation Disciplines through a pilot scheme with the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province and supported by the Development Bureau and the Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology. The pilot scheme is expected to expand to encompass more Disciplines in the future.

 

• A video series “3-minute Engineering Discovery” was launched to foster an appreciation for engineering, demonstrate its pervasive role in development, and inspire and educate the younger generation.

 

May

 

• On 16 May, a delegation from the Islands District Council (DC) visited our Headquarters. Through the visit, our appreciation of each other’s roles, perspectives, and aspirations was cultivated.

 

 

• From 16 to 22 May, Immediate Past President Ir Dr Barry Lee and Past President Ir Aaron Bok joined the delegation organised by the Ministry of Commerce and the Belt and Road Office to Hungary and Kazakhstan to connect with local counterparts.

 

• The Presidential Visit to Australia was held on 26 to 29 May to strengthen the ties with our members in Australia, build connection with Engineer Australia and attract engineer talents to work in Hong Kong.

 

 

June

 

• The HKIE New Members’ Reception took place on 1 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which was well attended by some 230 newly admitted members and guests.

 

 

• The Institution sent a delegation to New Delhi, India for the International Engineering Alliance Meetings (IEAM) 2024 from 8 to 14 June to engage in a transnational conversation on the issues and frameworks involved in the standardisation and recognition of engineering education.

 

• On 18 June, the first batch of Engineering Environmental Impact Assessment Professional (Eng EIA Pro) was presented with their certificates in a ceremony.

 

• The Third Greater Bay Area (GBA) Engineers Forum was held under the theme of “灣區同行 工程為本” in Macau’s MGM Cotai from 19 to 21 June and was attended by 300+ GBA engineering professionals to present collaboration results between GBA cities and sign agreements with Mainland engineering bodies.

 

 

• The GBA Federation of Engineering Organisations (GFEO) was established, under the advocacy of the China Association for Science and Technology, on 20 June during the Third GBA Engineering Forum. The Institution is one of the five founding organisations, together with the Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology, the Guangdong Institution of Engineers, the Association for Promotion of Science and Technology of Macau, and the Macau Institute of Engineers.

 

• Following the Mutual Recognition Framework Agreement signed with the Guangdong Institution of Engineers on 12 November 2023, on 20 June 2024 the Institution signed Supplementary Agreements with five Guangdong professional institutions in four Disciplines:

- The Agreement with Measurement Control Technology and Equipment Application Promotion Association of Guangdong Province covers 測量控制與儀器儀錶 and our Control, Automation & Instrumentation Discipline.

- That with Guangdong Society of Civil Engineering and Architecture covers 建築(土木)工程 and our Civil Discipline.

- That with Guangdong Province Highway Society covers 公路工程 and our Civil Discipline.

- That with Guangdong Society for Electrical Engineering covers 電機工程 and our Electrical Discipline.

- That with Guangdong Provincial Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering covers 岩土工程 and our Geotechnical Discipline.

 

• The 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 25 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Ir Eric Ma Siu-cheung was installed as the President for 2024/2025. The Presidential Theme “Grow the Nexus, Link the Links 一脈相承，縱深相連” was announced.

 

 

• The Stakeholder Engagement Workshop was held on 29 June to report the Governance Review Study’s progress and signpost its findings with a concise overview.

 

July

 

• By July, more than 100 members have succeeded in completing the interviews or assessments required for their applications for Mainland professional titles (職稱).

 

• From 30 June to 4 July, the International Council on Electrical Engineering (ICEE) Conference 2024 was jointly hosted with the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering, the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers in Kitakyushu, Japan under the theme “TRANSformative Electrical Engineering for Future Society”.

 

 

• The first Council meeting of Session 2024/2025 was held on 25 July, along with a photo session featuring Council Members and some of our Past Presidents, who are Honorary Members of the Council. Members were appointed onto the standing committees and Discipline Advisory Panels at the meeting.

 

 

• 12 young members were selected to take part in the President’s Protégé Scheme 2024/2025 and given the opportunity to shadow and work with President Ir Eric Ma.

 

 

August

 

• The Institution submitted views to the Chief Executive for the formulation of the 2024 Policy Address. These views touch on a broad spectrum of critical issues, including Education, Sustainability, Talent Acquisition, and New Industrialisation.

 

• By August, the HKIE Enginpreneurs programme has successfully assisted three teams of engineersentrepreneurs with Innovation and Technology (I&T) projects in being admitted into Cyberport’s entrepreneurship programmes through directorial support. The Enginpreneurs programme was initiated in May 2023 through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institution and Cyberport.

 

• On 21 August, the Institution held a briefing session of the Third Plenary Session of 20th CPC Central Committee on the Committee’s Resolution on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation, introducing members to the Resolution’s prescriptions for engineering technological innovations, talent cultivation, etc.

 

 

• From 25 to 28 August, the Institution organised a delegation to Beijing, visiting the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and three ministries as well as three engineering- and science-related organisations.

 

 

September

 

• A media gathering was held on 9 September to forge stronger bonds between the Institution and the press, strengthening media partnerships.

 

 

• On 10 September, the Institution signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA) at the CMA Headquarters in Central.

 

 

• The Presidential Address / Dinner was held on 13 September at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Young Engineers/Researchers 2024, The HKIE Best Transactions Paper Prize 2024 and The HKIE Long Service Award were presented.

 

 

• A video campaign “工程師•話你知” was launched to provide answers to interesting and unconventional engineering questions raised by primary and secondary school students.

 

October

 

• From 26 to 30 October, the Institution’s delegation visited the cities of Guangxi Province, including Guilin, Liuzhou, and Nanning, to strengthen professional ties between Hong Kong and the Guangxi region.

 

 

• The Young Members Committee visited the Sichuan Province from 9 to 14 October under the theme “科技創新 • 永續發展 • 多元共融” to explore infrastructure projects such as the Dujiangyan irrigation system and engage in fruitful exchanges with scholars and industry leaders.

 

• The Institution co-organised the 3rd Cross-Strait Hong Kong and Macao Urban Construction and Sustainable Development Science and Technology Forum with The China Civil Engineering Society, The Macau Institution of Engineers, and Sino-Geotechnic R&D Foundation under the theme of “Sustainable Urban Development Forum: Bridging the Future” on 30 October.

 

 

November

 

• The Presidential Visit to the UK was held from 4 to 6 November. Event highlights during the visit included the International Conference co-organised with The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on 4 November, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)’s Presidential Address and the cocktail reception co-organised with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) London on 5 November, and visits to sister institutions such as the Charted Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

 

 

 

 

• On 5 November, during the delegation’s attendance of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)’s Presidential Address in the UK, President Ir Eric Ma joined ICE President Prof Jim Hall on stage and offered insights into Hong Kong’s strategic infrastructure planning.

 

 

• On 11 November, 207 members celebrated their recognition as the first batch of Hong Kong engineering professionals who had succeeded in applying for professional titles for the GBA under a pilot scheme at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

 

• The Institution took part in the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) from 12 to 15 November to engage with international experts in exchanges on climate change’s escalation and the possible avenues of its mitigation.

 

• On 19 November, the Institution publicly launched an eBook about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). The eBook is entitled Engineered for Sustainability: Hong Kong’s Contribution to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

 

 

• On 20 November, the Institution signed the renewed Reciprocal Recognition Agreement (RRA) with the Charted Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

 

• On 21 November, the Institution signed the Reciprocal Recognition Agreement (RRA) with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology.

 

December

 

• On 4 December, 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 the China Municipal Engineering Association and the Macau Institution of Engineers under the theme “智建橋樑‧暢享都市”.

 

 

• The Public Lecture on The HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Young Engineers/Researchers 2024 was held on 11 December for the first authors of the awarded papers to present their research and exchange with the audience.

 

 

• On 23 December, the Institution signed the Mutual Recognition Supplementary Framework Agreement with the Guangdong Institution of Engineers; Supplementary Agreements with Guangdong Mechanical Engineering Society and Guangdong Institute of Electronics were also signed, covering 機械工程 and our Mechanical and Manufacturing, Industrial & Systems Disciplines in the first instance; and 信息通信工程 and our Electronics Discipline in the second instance.