Formulate Long-term Talent Development Strategy, Seize the Golden Chance in the Next Decade

In the next decade, the construction volume of Hong Kong's construction industry will reach HK$300 billion per year. The demand for housing in Hong Kong will also reach 430,000 units. Improvement in productivity and safety is the top priority of the industry. There are ample opportunities available for our industry practitioners; those who are well-prepared could ride on the trend. The Construction Industry Council takes a multi-pronged approach to support our industry to seize opportunities. An in-depth research is commissioned for the sake of enhancing project quality and quantity, technical training and knowledge sharing sessions are arranged, and engagement activities are organized for enhancement of the industry’s public image to attract talents.

Report on “Improving Time, Cost, and Quality Performance of the Hong Kong Construction Industry” Proposed 13 Strategies

Hong Kong ranks ninth in the world according to the construction cost index. The cost is set to climb up further in the year 2022. Given the above, the CIC has engaged a consultancy firm to compile a report based on extensive research, opinions from industry stakeholders and studies of overseas successful examples. The report “Improving Time, Cost, and Quality Performance of the Hong Kong Construction Industry” was released in the middle of last month. The report put forward a number of proposals for improving competitiveness. The CIC will work out an implementation plan accordingly, then work closely with the government and industry to enhance speed, efficiency, quantity and quality.

The report set out 13 strategies in 4 focus areas:

1. Shifting to high productivity construction: shift to “factory assembly followed by on-site installation” construction method to replace labor intensive production practices.
2. Streamlining approval processes: foster smart construction and implement digital workflows to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders.
3. Driving innovation: change mindset and adopt more innovative technologies to improve construction site environment and enhance worker safety.
4. Enhancing project management and procurement: use integrated project management platform to collect more valuable data and develop data-driven project management and procurement strategies.

In response to industry needs, the report made 13 recommendations as illustrated in the graph below.

This informative report is supplemented with many charts and action plans. It is worth our time to examine the report suggestions carefully. The report can be accessed at the CIC website.

Reserve Your Seat at Construction Innovation Expo Forums

The triennial Construction Innovation Expo is the flagship event of Hong Kong's construction industry. It will be held at HKCEC from 13 December to 17 December. The three co-organizers of the Expo are as follows: Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government, Centre of Science and Technology Industrial Development, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China and the CIC.

Several high level conferences will be held at the Expo with over 40 world-renowned experts as speakers. Over 120 exhibitors from all over the world will gather, including leading companies in the construction industry, relevant national governmental departments, HK government departments, technology giants, construction technology startups, telecommunications companies, universities, etc. Technology firm visits and business matching activities will also be arranged.

The response to the forums is overwhelming. Pre-registration is required for certain activities. Please make your appointment as early as possible at the official website: ciexpo.cic.hk. The event welcomes students from tertiary institutes to participate online or offline. It will be a great opportunity to gain more exposure to the latest technology and learn from industry leaders.

"Design for Future Build for Life” —— Hong Kong Construction Industry Promotion Campaign Kicked Off

With the support of the Development Bureau, the Construction Industry Council has mobilized industry organizations and construction-related professional bodies to launch a year-long “Hong Kong Construction Industry Promotion Campaign”. The campaign aims to further public understanding of the industry's professionalism, contribution and prospects through a series of engagement activities. Citizens are encouraged to join the industry and take up positions, such as frontline workers, technicians and professionals. Participating organizations include the Education Bureau, Association of Architectural Practices, Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Construction Association, Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Contractors’ Association, Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited, Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.

The campaign theme “Design for Future Build for Life” portrays a bright future of the industry and a liveable life is within the reach of people. The 30-second video advertisement shows the positive influence of the construction industry on our society, hoping to motivate talents to join our industry.

Moreover, a short promotional video is produced to demonstrate the wide spectrum of positions available in the construction industry. Young professionals like architects, engineers, safety officers and surveyors are featured in the video. The interviewees share their experiences and personal aspirations since joining the industry, providing a refreshing perspective appealing to the younger generation. The video also showcases a variety of cutting-edge engineering technologies in smart sites. The video depicts the construction industry in a colourful way within a few minutes, please share it with friends and family on social media.

The campaign’s special TV program series is under production. It covers topics, like design, construction, material surveying, electrical and mechanical engineering, in a lively and interesting manner. Campus engagement activities and a STEAM education portal about the industry will also be launched soon. For details, please visit the campaign’s official website: https://www.constructionhk.org.

"Construction Industry Volunteer Team" Established

Construction workers have always been proactive in benevolent causes. In the past five years, the total service hours of the “Construction Industry Volunteer Award Scheme” have exceeded 650,000 hours. This is a remarkable achievement.

To echo the launch of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Promotion Campaign, the CIC officially established the "Construction Industry Volunteer Team" to provide our industry practitioners a larger platform for spreading compassion. More than 7,500 volunteers and over 150 construction industry-related organizations are recruited within a short time. Volunteers can enrich themselves and enhance the image of the industry at the same time. Last month, the volunteer team offered its first outreach service by repairing homes for those in need. Dear volunteers, salute!

College Students Performed Well in “Celebration of BIM Achievement”

The CIC and Development Bureau co-organised the Celebration of BIM Achievement 2022 to recognize organizations and practitioners with outstanding cases of BIM application. The purpose of this initiative is to drive more breakthroughs and unleash the potential of BIM to the fullest. The submission this year all reflected that BIM can save manpower. This is proof that the implementation of BIM can alleviate manpower shortage. The CIC will invite the winners to hold seminars to share their practical tips of applying BIM.

This year, four new categories “BIM Training and R&D Organisations”, “Student BIM Projects”, “Eminent BIM Drivers” and “Most Improved BIM Organisations” were added, in addition to the original three categories, namely “BIM Projects”, “BIM Organisations” and “BIMers”. A total of 67 teams stood out under strict evaluation. The reason for setting up the “Student BIM Projects" category is to enable students to experience the advantages of digitization in the construction industry. Many excellent and impressive projects were submitted by students of tertiary institutes. Topics included applying BIM in smart and sustainable campus design, preservation of heritage buildings, and Modular Integrated Construction, etc.

The next golden decade of Hong Kong's construction industry depends on talent cultivation and talent recruitment. The industry needs to train more technical professionals and attract newcomers, so as to fill the talent gap and pave ways for a smooth succession. Nurturing talents is a long-term process that requires perseverance. Senior management of construction companies should formulate talent strategies and make comprehensive plans on talent recruitment, training, and professional development.

Here I appeal to young people to join our industry. Hong Kong's construction industry is huge. It can provide a promising career and a vibrant workplace. It will be wise to jump on the trend. In our big family, you will definitely find a shining role.