“Professional Title” (職稱) is the professional qualification standard as practiced by the Mainland. It is a key benchmark for evaluating the skills and qualification levels of professionals and provides a basis for construction enterprises to recruit and promote talent. With the joint efforts of the Guangdong Government and the HKSAR Government, as well as The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and its Mainland counterpart, a new evaluation mechanism for this qualification for professionals in Hong Kong was established in 2023. The assessment of the first batch of applications for “Professional Title” qualifications was completed in 2024 with 207 Hong Kong engineers obtaining Mainland “Professional Title” qualifications. This marks a historic milestone for local professionals in integrating into the Mainland’s “Professional Title” evaluation system.

What is the “Professional Title” qualification and why is it important?

“Professional Title” is the evaluation system for professional qualifications in the Mainland. It is the key indicator of a professional’s academic and technical competence as well as his or her capabilities and achievements. There are five ranks of “Professional Title”, namely "Technologist" (技術員), "Assistant Engineer" (助理工程師), "Engineer" (工程師), "Senior Engineer" (高級工程師), and "Professorate Senior Engineer" (正高級工程師). The last was commonly named “Professor-level Senior Engineer” (教授級工程師). The “Professional Title” qualification system is a fundamental framework for the evaluation and management of professional personnel in the Mainland. The evaluation process follows a rigorous system, with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (HRSS) being responsible for formulating nationwide policies and management guidelines for “Professional Title” evaluations. Provincial-level HRSS departments are tasked with organising and implementing the evaluations within their respective regions.

The Mainland’s tendering processes often entail requirements on the “Professional Title” level for project leadership personnel. A case in point would be that a Project Manager or team leader may be required to hold a “Senior Engineer” title or above. For technically demanding and complex projects, bidders with “Professorate Senior Engineer” personnel could be awarded additional scores under specific circumstances.

At the corporate level, for Hong Kong enterprises providing services in the Mainland, employing professionals with relevant “Professional Title” qualifications could enhance their competitiveness. At an individual level, the employment marketability of Hong Kong professionals with “Professional Titles” could be strengthened, as their qualifications are more easily recognised by Mainland enterprises.

Joint efforts made by various parties in developing evaluation mechanism

The “Professional Title” evaluation process in the Mainland must adhere to procedures and standards established by the HRSS authorities. In the past, Hong Kong professionals have encountered challenges while applying for the “Professional Title” qualification. For instance, such applications must be submitted through a Mainland employer. For “Senior Engineer" or above ranks, applicants must demonstrate their professional achievements through the publication of technical papers and the attainment of industry awards, patents or other relevant accomplishments. These may pose certain difficulties for Hong Kong professionals due to the differences in practices between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Appreciating the importance of the initiative and the need to overcome the challenges, the Development Bureau (DEVB), through the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, initiated an active dialogue with the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province (GDHRSSD) in April 2023 with a view to addressing these obstacles. Through multiple rounds of discussions involving the Guangdong and Hong Kong government departments, the HKIE and the Guangdong Institution of Engineers (GIE), an innovative “Professional Title” evaluation mechanism tailored for the professionals in the Hong Kong construction sector was jointly formulated in September 2023. This pilot mechanism covers five engineering “Professional Title” disciplines, namely civil engineering, geotechnical, highway, electrical, and measurement, control and instrumentation.

The implementation of the pilot “Professional Title” evaluation would not have been possible without the close collaboration among the governments and professional institutions of Hong Kong and the Mainland. After the DEVB and the GDHRSSD established a policy framework, intensive negotiations were held between the HKIE and GIE to develop the detailed evaluation criteria and arrangements. Special thanks are extended to the HKIE leadership, its Secretariat, Discipline Advisory Panel (DAP) Chairpersons, and representatives from relevant sectors for their tireless efforts throughout the process. 

Multiple rounds of meetings amongst various parties to work out the evaluation mechanism

Briefing session for the applicants of the pilot “Professional Title” evaluation

First batch of Hong Kong engineers passing the “Professional Title” evaluation

As advised by the DEVB, the GDHRSSD has invited the HKIE to nominate Hong Kong experts to participate in the evaluation process of the pilot “Professional Title” evaluation work. In November 2023, the GDHRSSD accepted 93 Hong Kong experts nominated by the HKIE, granting them the title of “Professorate Senior Engineer” as recognition of their technical competence. Among them, ten Hong Kong experts served as interviewers for the applications for “Senior Engineer” and “Professorate Senior Engineer” qualifications.

We are delighted that 114 HKIE members have successfully passed the evaluation and obtained the corresponding “Professional Title” qualifications. Together with the 93 recognised Professorate Senior Engineers, a total of 207 Hong Kong engineers were awarded the Mainland “Professional Title” qualifications, including the ranks of “Professorate Senior Engineer”, “Senior Engineer”, “Engineer” and “Assistant Engineer”. The evaluation process is thorough and the assessors were impressed by the HKIE members’ high professional standards and technical expertise. In November 2024, the HKIE held a celebration ceremony for the first batch of Hong Kong engineers who obtained the Mainland “Professional Title” qualifications. The senior officials of the DEVB and LOCPG graced the ceremony with their presence, demonstrating how highly the leadership values this initiative.

Significance of the pilot “Professional Title” evaluation

The initiative of the “Professional Title” evaluation system has been included in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address.  Its successful implementation in the five engineering disciplines marks an important milestone in opening the door for professionals in Hong Kong to integrate into the Mainland “Professional Title” evaluation system.  It is worth mentioning that this is a one-way facilitation measure instead of a mutual recognition arrangement, fully reflecting the country’s support and care for Hong Kong professionals.

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China emphasised Hong Kong’s transformation into an international hub for high-calibre talent. On one hand, we are dedicated to attracting top-tier professionals to strengthen our talent pool. On the other hand, enhancing the competitiveness of local talent is equally important. Promoting “Professional Title” evaluation not only creates opportunities for Hong Kong professionals to advance their careers in the Mainland but also fosters alignment with Mainland standards. It acts as a catalyst for deepening collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland professionals. By facilitating exchanges, it broadens the horizons of Hong Kong talents and expands their exposure to cutting-edge technological advancements, which is essential for elevating the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong’s construction sector.

Celebration ceremony for the first batch of Hong Kong engineers passing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area engineering “Professional Title” evaluation

Way forward

On 13 January 2025, the Secretary for Development signed the Letter of Intent (LOI) on the Development of Talents for the Construction Sector with the GDHRSSD. The DEVB and the GDHRSSD will collaborate to regularise the evaluation mechanism of the “Professional Title” qualification and to extend the mechanism to more professions in the construction sector.  This year, the “Professional Title” evaluation mechanism will cover more HKIE Disciplines (including Mechanical Discipline, Manufacturing, Industrial and Systems Discipline, Electronics Discipline and Information Discipline), as well as quantity surveying and architectural professions.

The DEVB and the representatives of Hong Kong professional institutes visited Guangzhou in October 2024 to discuss the work plan for the “Professional Title” evaluation for 2025

The evaluation committee in the Mainland (known as “粵港澳大灣區港澳專業人才高級職稱評審委員會”) has issued the criteria and standards for assessing “Professional Title” for the new professions launched this year.  The application period ended in April 2025 and the evaluation process will soon commence, with results to be announced in Q3 2025. 

Moving forward, the DEVB will continue to provide strategic policy support, foster close collaboration with key stakeholders and further facilitate the construction sector’s integration into national development.