Connecting the World with the Power of Advanced Technology

With the official inauguration and operation of Representative Office of CIC (HK) in Guangdong, the construction industry in the Greater Bay Area has entered a new stage. The exchange of ideas and integration between Hong Kong and the Mainland construction industry will be much smoother. The CIC continues to proactively promote the development of high-end construction technology in Q3 of this year. The "Forum of China Con-Tech Development and the Future of Hong Kong Construction Industry" held on 9 August and the recently opened "CIC Digital Twin Hub" created new chapters in local collaboration and regional partnership respectively.

High-end Forum Brings Together Scholars and Experts

In the context of the "14th Five-Year Plan", the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong has the advantage of linking the Mainland and the rest of the world. Hong Kong is the ideal city for bridging the Mainland and the world.  On 9 August, the "Forum of China Con-Tech Development and the Future of Hong Kong Construction Industry" hosted by the CIC, was successfully held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Forum, which took place both online and offline simultaneously, successfully created a platform for knowledge exchange and experience sharing between the two locations. It also promoted cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong construction industries, enabling them to jointly seize the opportunities presented in the GBA.

More than 20 leading figures in construction and technology gave speeches and joined sharing sessions at the Forum, including members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences - Prof. DING Lieyun, Prof. CHEN Xiangsheng, Prof. TENG Jinguang and Prof. LIU Jiaping, as well as Prof. LI Zexiang, an authority figure in the field of robotics and automation. The speakers presented on cutting-edge construction technology research and application in the Mainland, they also outlined the future trends of China's construction industry. Their insights were profound and unique. The audience was deeply inspired and motivated to integrate innovative ideas and technologies. They were encouraged to apply China's advanced technologies in the future to add value to Hong Kong’s construction projects.

Promote China’s Technology to the World and Co-build Large-scale Overseas Projects

The Forum covered R&D and application of frontier construction technology, as well as  market situation and development stage of the construction industry. Some speakers touched on internationalisation of China’s construction industry and provided insightful views. Among them, Ms. Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development, mentioned that “(Hong Kong) plans to establish a Construction R&D and Testing Center to provide a platform for aligning our country's construction standards and products with those in the international market. (The Center) will assist our nation’s construction materials and related products entering the international market, while facilitating mutual standard recognition between our national standards and international standards.” I eagerly anticipate the strong alliance between Hong Kong and the Mainland to connect the world!

Hong Kong possesses an international network that can facilitate our Mainland counterparts in exploring the international market, entering new markets and grasping business opportunities. Hong Kong should leverage its own advantages, such as its status as an international city, professional project management capabilities, extensive international business network, and support from the comprehensive industrial supply chain of its Mainland peers. By harnessing these strengths, Hong Kong can create a powerful synergy that drives the GBA construction industry toward attaining a leading international position. Hong Kong can showcase our country's progress in advanced construction technology and commitment to improve the lives of people around the world.

Promote Exchanges for a Brighter Future

In addition to promoting technical exchanges, the CIC attaches great importance to the exchange of talents in the region. Last month, the Youth Affairs Committee of the CIC organised the Construction Industry Youth Exchange Programme in the Greater Bay Area. 60 Hong Kong students from 39 schools led by youth leaders went on an 8-day tour and visited the construction industry, technology companies, and cultural and educational institutions in the Greater Bay Area. During the tour, they were given the opportunity to see for themselves Modular Integrated Construction method, sustainable construction materials, smart production, and exchange with local students, allowing them to acquire an early understanding of the development potential of the construction industry in the regions. We hope to attract students to join the construction industry in the future, and sowing the seeds of advanced technology application in the hearts of the society’s future pillar.

New Digital Twin Seminars and Workshops Open for Registration

When construction sites become more intelligent and digitalised, the adoption of digital twin technology could be extensive. The recently opened 'CIC Digital Twin Hub' is in CIC's Kowloon Bay office. It features four feature areas, including an exhibition area, a smart construction site management area, a multi-purpose area, and a Digital Twin Lab. Six smart applications of digital twin technology are showcased: data sharing, asset and facility management, submission with building information modeling, offsite fabrication and delivery,  site management, planning and design. These facilities and presentations are designed to nurture future digital engineers and coordinators while strengthening the core competitiveness of enterprises. The Digital Twin Hub is now open for visits, Mr. David LAM, Under Secretary for Development and his team visited the Hub earlier to understand the performance of digital twin in assets management, energy saving, reduce embodied carbon and central management platform with data adopted in construction site for safety management. We look forward to meeting you at the Hub!

Satellite Remote Sensing Technology and Infrastructure Safety Discussed at “See What I See” Seminar

The CIC was honoured to have Prof. Mei-Po KWAN, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management and Director of the Institute of Space and Earth Information Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as the speaker at the “See What I See” event in August. She elaborated on how Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) can help to collect satellite images to the same area over time to analyse spatial data and changes (deformation or subsidence) to the ground. This technology allows high accuracy analysis of large areas that improves construction safety and helps smart city development. She also highlighted how spatial data (sky, space, ground and human) contributes to sustainable development. To address the challenges posed by buildings deterioration and climate change, the construction industry needs to understand the tiny changes on buildings and infrastructure. We look forward to wider adoption of satellite remote sensing technology that helps to detects and receives information radiated and reflected by the target building from high altitude through sensors for analysis. It provides early warnings of potential risks to ensure infrastructure safety.

Although I am a senior practitioner in the industry, the “See What I See” event still opens my eyes every time. Prof. Mei-Po Kwan's remarkable presentation took the audience to see the Earth from space, reminding me of the famous quote "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them". Equipped with a growth mindset, dedication to excellence, and Hong Kong's international experience, the development of construction in the GBA has boundless potential. The CIC will continue to foster cooperation among industry, universities and research institutions in the GBA's construction industry. The CIC will explore high-growth markets such as the Belt and Road Initiative countries and ASEAN countries, promote the upgrading and transformation of the GBA construction industry, enhance the level of internationalisation, and partner with our Mainland counterparts to build a high-quality construction industry ecosystem for the world.