Ir Prof Alfred SIT

The Presidential Address/Dinner held on 12 September 2025 for Session 2025/2026 was a resounding success. Over 900 members and guests joined us for a wonderful evening. Their support was instrumental in making our event a triumph. Along with President Ir Alice Chow’s theme this Session, “Together we RISE” (同心同創), symbolising Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability and Equity, she set the tone for the Institution’s future trajectory. Her aspiration and vision were conveyed through her stories, igniting a sense of unity among our esteemed members and guests (the Address can be revisited here).

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the prize winners awarded the HKIE Best Transactions Paper Prize 2025 and the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Young Engineers/Researchers 2025 during the Presidential Dinner. These young engineers and scholars signify a promising influx of talent into the industry. To continue nurturing future professionals, our School Ambassadors Programme is now recruiting ambassadors to engage with young minds— sharing experiences, fostering conversations, and cultivating a deeper appreciation of the engineering profession. Through these interactions, we hope to spark interest and motivate the next generation to explore careers in engineering.

We are co-hosting the Shanghai and Hong Kong Symposium on Science and Technology on 15-16 October and the 4th Greater Bay Area Engineers Forum on 19 October. We will also join The World Federation of Engineering Organizations 2025 General Assembly (WFEO 2025 GA) and the Global Engineering Congress in Shanghai between 12 and 17 October 2025. This prestigious event is jointly organised by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, with the theme “Engineering shapes a Green Future”. Senior Vice President Ir Prof Frank CHAN will attend the WFEO 2025 General Assembly on behalf of the Institution.

Our 50th Anniversary celebrations are stably on-going with our members’ unwavering support. We are excited about our high-speed rail journey to Guangzhou on 29-30 November, at the same time the international conference on Railway Safety perioded 25-30 November. In the next month, we share happiness with the cocktail reception on 5 December, the carnival at the West Kowloon Cultural District on 6-7 December, and an exhibition in Beijing also in December to showcase Hong Kong’s stories of engineering excellence.

The HKSAR Chief Executive recently delivered his fourth Policy Address. We express our support for the initiatives outlined, which aim to enhance people’s livelihoods, drive economic growth, and promote social development. The address placed strong emphasis on accelerating strategic development of the Northern Metropolis, industry growth and reform, new industrialisation, talent development, and integration with the overall national development agenda.

We are pleased to note the Government’s adoption of several recommendations proposed by the Institution, in particular the expansion of the electric vehicle charging network, and initiatives promoting the commercialisation of green innovation and technology. The commendable progress in waste reduction was highlighted in the Policy Address. The flexible adjustment of the waste charging policies, in response to the waste reduction efforts and the current economic challenges, reflect a proactive stance to the sustainable development of our city.

The Legislative Council has recently passed the Fire Services (Registered Fire Engineers) Regulation, empowering registered fire engineers to perform fire safety risk assessments and issue certificates for licence applicants for designated premises. We are encouraged by the integration of professional engineers into the market, harnessing the wealth of expertise and talent within our society. This move not only bolsters the professional growth of our engineers but also enhances operational efficiency of the licence application process.

As we celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October, we proudly acknowledge the active engagements of our members in fortifying ties with our Nation and the global community. On 28 September 2025, Beijing held a National Day reception with about 760 representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese in attendance. The President was invited to attend the reception in the Great Hall of the People in the capital.

This showcases the remarkable capabilities of engineers and our Institution as a Super Connector. Let us persist in this pivotal role, harnessing Hong Kong’s distinctive strengths, and actively contributing to the progress and prosperity of our Nation.