With the calendar now turned to July, we have embarked on a new Session—Session 2025/2026. May I extend my warmest greetings to all members, particularly those who have joined us lately.
I was privileged to be one of those who witnessed, at our 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 24 June, Ir Alice Chow’s installation as our 51st President. Ir Chow is the Institution’s first female President since its establishment, with statutory status, in 1975. Her appointment is therefore a historic moment for female representation in engineering and in our Institution. Gender identity aside, Ir Chow has a rich professional background and a strong commitment to worthy causes— among them public service and sustainable development— which made her a fitting leader of an organisation that always aspires to give back to the society.
Under the theme “Together we RISE” (同心同創), Ir Chow has laid out a compelling agenda for the year ahead. The theme distils four core values—Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, and Equity—which are important for our profession’s perpetuation in a complex and fast-changing world. Whether it is nurturing the I&T ecosystem, advocating sustainable designs, or preparing engineers for emerging sectors, the theme calls on us to rise together, as a profession and as a community. The clarity of this message, and its relevance to both traditional and new engineering domains, set an auspicious tone for the Session. Learn more about Ir Chow here.
I also congratulate Ir William Luk, who was elected as Vice President at the AGM, as well as Ir Tony Ho, Ir David Lau, Ir James Sze, Ir Fanny Ting, and Ir Keith Yue, who emerged from the election as the Council’s new Elected Ordinary Members. In their success, our membership’s confidence in the new leadership is reflected, and I, too, am confident in their contributions to the Institution’s growth and direction.
Not even two weeks into her term, our President has already demonstrated activeness in championing STEAM and youth engagement. On 4 July, Ir Chow delivered a keynote presentation titled “當工程遇上SDGs：共創可持續未來” at the Learning and Teaching Expo 2025, where she spoke passionately about the engineer's role in translating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into tangible, real-world impact. Just days earlier, she also attended the Engineering Student Project Exhibition 2025, organised by the Vocational Training Council, as a member of the judging panel for that exhibition. Both occasions reflect fully on how committed she is to fostering a deeper understanding of engineering's place in sustainability and innovation.
Earlier in the month, on 7 June, we held our second New Members’ Reception for Session 2024/2025. Over 300 newly admitted members and guests attended the gathering. Ir Dr Barry Lee, Immediate Past President for that Session, delivered a heartfelt welcome, encouraging the new members to take pride in their professional achievements and to become actively involved in the Institution’s work. The Reception, which included certificate presentations and networking opportunities with senior members, was a joyful celebration of the communal spirit that underpins our institutional culture.
June also saw great progress in our continuing efforts to buttress members’ professional recognition in the Greater Bay Area. On 8 June, the second round of professional title assessments for HKIE members, organised by the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province, was successfully conducted at our Headquarters. This expanded round included interviews for eight Mainland engineering disciplines, adding 機械, 通信工程, and 網絡空 間安全 to the five initially covered in the pilot mechanism, which are 土木, 岩土, 公路, 電機 and 測控儀器. Of the 234 total applications received, 149 candidates, with 19 engineers from Macau, took part in the process for “Senior Engineer” (高級工程師) and “Professorate Senior Engineer” (正高級工程師), which was jointly conducted by experts from both the Mainland and Hong Kong. The inclusion of Macau engineers marks a significant step toward regional integration. We are encouraged by the growing momentum behind the mutual recognition of qualifications and will continue working closely with our partners to make this mechanism a sustainable pathway for professional advancement.
Internationally, the Institution continued to raise its global profile through participation in major international forums. From 8 to 13 June, our delegation attended the International Engineering Alliance Meetings 2025 in Merida, Mexico. A highlight of the event was the election of Past President Ir Prof P L Yuen as Chair of the International Engineering Technologists Agreement (IETA)—a well-earned recognition that reflects both his leadership and the Institution’s standing in the global engineering community. This was followed by Ir Prof Yuen’s re-election as Chair of the Seoul Accord during its General Meeting held at the same venue. These leadership roles, both personal accolades and institutional achievements, reinforced our commitment to international standards and engineering education worldwide.
From 11 to 17 June, we participated in the Greater Bay Area Federation of Engineering Organisations (GFEO) delegation to Portugal and the United Kingdom as a founding member of GFEO. Led by Senior Vice President Ir Prof Frank Chan, the delegation visited professional institutions, universities, and research laboratories. These visits offered valuable opportunities to exchange perspectives on innovation, decarbonisation, and international engineering collaboration. It was also an occasion to introduce the GFEO’s mission to global partners and to deepen the international presence of Hong Kong’s engineering profession.
Around the same time, I had the privilege of attending the Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, held in Chengdu. I participated in the Engineering Capacity Building Forum, which brought together experts from across the Belt and Road region to discuss developments in engineering education, green infrastructure, and sustainable transport. The discussions reaffirmed the Institution’s potential to serve as a “super-connector” between the Mainland and international engineering communities.
Echoing Ir Chow, let us continue to rise—together as one— with confidence in all that engineering can offer to our community.
The 50th Annual General Meeting
The 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on 24 June 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). More than 500 members showed their support by casting their votes at the voting centre in the HKCEC.
The results of the election of the new Vice President, the incumbent Vice Presidents and Elected Ordinary Members (EOM) are available on the website at http://www.hkie.org.hk. We welcome the new Council Members to the new Session.
Our President, Ir Alice Chow Kin-tak, elected by the outgoing Council, revealed that the theme for the Session would be “Together we RISE”. You are invited to read the cover story, which gives an account of our President, and to join us at the Presidential Address/Dinner on 12 September 2025, when she will unveil details of her plan for the year ahead.