“Together, We Are Invincible”

As the fifth wave of pandemic recedes, our daily lives and work resume to normal. The past two years of pandemic has brought multiple challenges to Hong Kong. With the construction industry’s united spirit, we overcame hurdles time and again and even stepped up to protect Hong Kong in this battle against COVID-19! The united spirit of the construction industry, under the leadership and support of the Development Bureau, helps the seamless communication between the government and the industry to work towards a shared vision. 

Collaboration Creates Synergy

As the channel of communication between the construction industry and the government, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) has been communicating and coordinating with the Development Bureau since the onset of the epidemic.  Aiming to minimize the impact of the epidemic on the construction industry, we provided various support schemes and guidelines to aid construction practitioners at all levels to support the industry and workers with our best efforts.

The CIC constantly reviews and updates measures to be implemented in construction sites to provide a safe working environment. Before Hong Kong receives the first batch of vaccines, the CIC has launched the Construction Industry COVID-19 Testing Service Scheme with the support of the Development Bureau to provide free COVID-19 testing services for workers. Active promotion to encourage industry practitioners to receive vaccination followed.

Before the fifth wave of the epidemic, a daily average of approximately 120,000 workers report duty at construction sites and the number dropped to record low of about 60,000 workers because many workers were infected or had to undergo quarantine. In view of this, the CIC and the Development Bureau quickly gathered industry stakeholders and established the "Task Force on Further Enhancing COVID-19 Preparedness of the Construction Industry" (Task Force) to lead the construction industry in fighting the epidemic. Measures including the issuance of guideline “Escalate COVID-19 Risk Management at Construction Sites” in February 2022 to strengthen construction sites’ awareness and risk management to prevent the spread of the virus. The CIC and the industry, with the support of the Development Bureau, launched a few “Construction Industry COVID-19 Testing Days” in March and April and implemented “Vaccine Pass” arrangement in constructions sites in stages to uncover hidden transmission chains as early as possible to protect workers and the community in Hong Kong.

The CIC has aided workers in different ways since the beginning of the pandemic. We worked with the full support of the Development Bureau and distributed anti-epidemic supplies including over 6,000,000 masks, 1,000,000 free rapid antigen test kits, 210,000 bottles of hand sanitizers, as well as launching schemes like the “Construction Industry Caring Campaign 2.0 - Fight against Novel Coronavirus” and “Construction Industry Council Relief Fund – Multi-skills Training Scheme for Registered Workers to subsidise roughly 1,400 construction sites and more than 150,000 workers and construction site personnel.

The CIC actively listens to the needs of the industry and relays their opinions to relevant government departments in a timely manner. With the support from the Development Bureau in conveying the industry’s need, our effort in urging for the inclusion in the new Employment Support Scheme bears fruit and offered assistance to the industry in time. Main contractors, sub-contractors and construction companies in the Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition area will be benefited. The Task Force also gathered industry opinion on the impact of the fifth wave pandemic on logistics, manpower and cash flow to help the Development Bureau formulate a new round of support measures. Measures benefitting government works include allowing further flexibility in tender period and extension of contract time applications; providing prepayment to existing project contracts and consultancy contracts; delivering essential machinery and equipment to Hong Kong for storage in advance and additional costs involved were undertaken by the government, etc.

Crisis Brings Opportunities

The fifth outbreak of the epidemic in Hong Kong brought imminent demand for isolation facilities with the surging number of confirmed cases. With the help of innovative construction technologies, the local construction industry, the central government and mainland experts collaborated and adopted the Modular Integrated Construction method (MiC) and prefabricated housing to establish a number of community isolation facilities in a swift, providing a total of 40,000 isolation beds. The CIC has been committed to promoting MiC since 2018, and built the MiC Resources Centre to set an example for the industry. The CIC has also organised international conferences to encourage exchange and development of MiC in Hong Kong. We are proud to see this technology thrive and contribute to relieve the urgent need of the city with its flexible and speedy feature. The CIC will continue to promote different kinds of innovative construction technologies to enhance construction productivity and safety, and build a more comfortable place for the people of Hong Kong.

Concerted effort is the key to success

It is impossible for someone to build alone. Synergy could only be achieved when we work together. Thanks to the support and cooperation of the government and industry stakeholders, to support the construction industry’s position to serve the society and build a better future. Moreover, to show our care and support to the welfare sector in response to the Development Bureau’s appeal, the CIC worked with contractors to donate a batch of refitted containers to hospitals and elderly homes and provide a proper space for frontline staff to take rest.

Hurdles are meant to be leapt, I am sure the construction industry will overcome the challenges and achieve our goal. Let me thank everyone in the construction industry for their dedication to Hong Kong. I believe that the united spirit in the industry will help us conquer future challenges. The third phase of Vaccine Pass will be implemented starting 31 May, let’s get vaccinated to protect ourselves and the community!