Three months into 2025, I am heartened by the grounds gained thus far by the Institution on various fronts, as well as by the characteristic dedication shown by all concerned in the process. The past few weeks in particular have seen meaningful progress in our policy advocacy, professional collaboration, engagement with the younger generation, and preparations for our 50th Anniversary celebrations.
The recently announced 2025-26 Budget aligns with many of the Institution’s long-standing priorities. We welcome the Administration's support for talent development, which included, significantly, the expansion of on-the-job training subsidies for young professionals. Members are strongly encouraged to make full use of this subsidy to recruit, retain, and nurture young engineering talent, helping to build a robust and dynamic workforce capable of meeting our challenges ahead. We are also pleased by the Budget’s commitment to advancing low-altitude economy, critical infrastructure projects, and Modular Integrated Construction (MiC)’s development in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Budget’s provisions are expected to herald advancements in innovation and economic growth, and the Institution looks forward to working with the Administration to see them through. You are invited to read our full response here.
As our 50th Anniversary celebrations draw nearer by the month, our members and industry partners’ generous sponsorship will make a serious difference to how much this Institutional milestone will be enriched. The planned programme of events, including Grand Annual Dinner, international conference, roving exhibition, and public carnival, all offer opportunities for exposure and engagement, while each showcases our profession’s rich history and enduring impact in its own way. Corporations and individuals are invited to explore the sponsorship opportunities on offer here and access the reply form here.
One exhilarating development in the HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award is the Public Voting for the highest prizes. Open to all for one week from 6 to 13 March, the voting lines up a total of 19 finalists across three Categories—Innovation, Industrial, and Infrastructure—and presents a chance for each of us to select, in each Category, an engineering achievement that has demonstrated the greatest impact and is therefore the most deserving of a Legacy Award. Support your favoured contender by casting your votes now here.
On 20-21 February, Senior Vice President Ir Alice Chow and Vice President Ir Prof Frank Chan led a study tour to Foshan Hydrogen Valley, where they explored the latest advancements in hydrogen energy (HE) technology. The visit, organised by the Continuing Professional Development Committee, provided participants with an in-depth look at hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and applications. Foshan, a pioneer in HE development, has attracted over a hundred enterprises and research institutions dedicated to this emerging field. The well-established hydrogen ecosystem there, and the many potential collaboration opportunities between Foshan and Hong Kong, were well-noted by all the visitants.
On 26 February, the Institution and the Guangdong Institution of Engineers (GDIE) signed the Second Supplementary Agreement in the Mutual Recognition Supplementary Framework. This Agreement expands mutual recognition for professional qualifications, facilitating engineer mobility and collaboration within the GBA. Under it, the Institution’s Electronics and Information Disciplines correspond with GDIE’s 網絡空間安全專業領域, marking another step forward in regional integration. Notably, such an expansion creates further opportunities for our members to attain corresponding professional titles (職稱) in our Motherland, reinforcing their credentials and broadening their career prospects. At the Institution, we shall keep ourselves occupied in pursuing this initiative further, which already encompasses the Control, Automation & Instrumentation, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Geotechnical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial & Systems, and Information Disciplines.
On 1 March, President Ir Eric Ma and I were pleased to join PolyU’s Tea Reception for first-year students in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), an occasion that brought together alumni and faculty to welcome and socialise with these newcomers and to engage them in discussions on academic and career topics. Ir Ma and I shared our thoughts in turn, which ranged from EEE’s importance and career prospects to HKIE membership and the emerging trends in the I&T sector. It was a pleasure to engage and exchange views with these intelligent youths, who will surely flourish into the pillars of our profession in the future.
In a short while—on 3 April—the HKIE Grand 50th Annual Dinner will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This will be a momentous gathering of members, government representatives, and industry leaders— a time not only to unwind and connect, but also to celebrate the Institution’s 50-year legacy in each other’s company. Your presence there will be indispensable to this landmark occasion.
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.
Vice President Nomination
Members are reminded that nominations for election as Vice President for Session 2025/2026 will be closed on 14 March 2025 at 5:30pm. The nomination form and related information are available at the Institution’s website at http://www.hkie.org.hk.