Showcasing Professionalism: Embracing a New Era for the Construction Industry

Hong Kong's construction industry employs a vast workforce that has contributed significantly to the city's economic and infrastructure development over the years, it is one of the pillars of Hong Kong's economic vitality. To further accelerate the cultivation of industry-required talent and enhance the overall professional standards, the CIC and the Development Bureau are committed to promoting professionalism, digitalisation, New Quality Productive Forces, and sustainable development. The CIC has designated 2025 as the "Year of Professionalism", aiming to assist the industry in building an ideal working environment and gaining recognition from the community.

2025: Year of Professionalism – Supporting Industry Upgrade and Transformation

This year, the CIC focuses on advocating for professionalism, enhancing public understanding of the training processes, assessment standards, and professional competence of construction industry personnel, aiming to garner greater recognition for our industry. The "Year of Professionalism" encompasses five key areas, closely aligned with the CIC's strategic development blueprint. The key activities and promotional initiatives are as follows:

1. Enhancing Construction Safety: We will continue to advance the "Frontline Personnel Safety Performance Record Scheme" to strengthen site safety and risk assessment, thereby reducing accidents. Additionally, we will enhance the safety awareness and skills of workers engaged in high-risk activities (such as scaffolding and high-altitude work) through appropriate guidance. Smart Site Safety Systems help improve the efficiency of site safety management, and we will continue to encourage the industry to adopt them promptly. The upcoming "CEO Safety Forum" scheduled on 8 January aims to improve industry safety standards and the image of the construction industry by focusing on management-level initiatives.

2. Cultivating Future Talents for the Construction Industry: To equip workers and subcontractors with skills needed for the industry's future development, such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MiMEP), and robotics, at least 12,000 training quotas will be provided annually. The biennial "Construction Industry Outstanding Young Person Award" will continue this year, providing young construction professionals with greater exposure and encouraging them to strive for excellence and contribute to society. To foster a spirit of craftsmanship,, the CIC will also recognize outstanding artisans this year.

3. Advancing Digitalisation, New Quality Productive Forces, and Efficiency in the Construction Industry: We will promote and assist the industry in adopting various advanced technologies and fully implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM). The "Construction Innovation Expo" and a construction robots competition will be held this year, allowing industry practitioners to understand cutting-edge construction technologies and machinery from around the world, facilitating exchange with international counterparts, broadening horizons, and establishing collaborative relationships. The "Centre for Future Construction" in Kowloon Bay will be opened this year, and a series of activities will be launched. 

4. Promoting Sustainable Development: We will raise environmental awareness within the industry and encourage businesses to embrace a circular economy. The use of electronic systems such as the "CIC Construction Smart Waste Management Tool" and the "CIC Carbon Assessment Tool" will be promoted to improve waste-to-resource conversion and carbon emission management performance. We will advocate for best practices that align with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, and actively support the "Hong Kong Climate Action Blueprint 2050", assisting businesses in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

5. Improving Business Environment: We will actively support measures to improve the business environment, such as providing guidance and forms related to the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance. These actions can bolster the industry's image and reputation.  We will promote the New Engineering Contract (NEC) to foster win-win cooperation among stakeholders and proactively address project challenges. We will also support the government and the industry to streamline procedures for increased efficiency and speed.  "Registered Specialist Trade Contractors Scheme" will be promoted to facilitate performance management in professional development, enhance corporate visibility and expand business opportunities.

The success of the "Year of Professionalism" hinges on the support of all stakeholders: clients, consulting firms, contractors, subcontractors, workers, and frontline personnel — all integral members of the industry. Only when everyone performs their duties well and be considerate to others can we demonstrate professionalism in our work. This will make our industry safer and more sustainable, and also help clients and the public understand how our hard work adds value to the society as a whole.

“Future Construction Excellence Programme” Cultivates Future Leaders

The inaugural Future Construction Excellence Program has successfully concluded with the graduation ceremony held in the previous month. 26 participants completed this enriching learning journey, witnessed by more than 100 attendees. Over the past few months, participants diligently completed the three learning modules: "Global Insights", "Regional Know-how" and "Local Expertise", these modules covered the latest topics in the construction industry, including housing landscapes, optimisation of construction strategies, and digital project lifecycle management. The programme featured more than 50 international expert speakers and incorporated site visits to high-quality construction projects and technology firms to foster cross-disciplinary exchange.

At the graduation ceremony, I witnessed the transformation of the participants during their presentations. I expect that they will become visionary decision-makers who will drive Hong Kong's construction industry towards high-quality development with a broader perspective. I acknowledge the substantial efforts of the CIC colleagues in curating this programme. Given its overwhelmingly positive reception, the CIC is determined to continue this initiative. Those interested in joining the 2025 programme, please stay tuned for upcoming announcements!

The Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance Creates a Better Business Environment

The Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (the Ordinance) has been gazetted on 27 December 2024 and has been warmly welcomed by stakeholders in the construction industry. The Ordinance reduces the risk of wage arrears and improves the business environment for all parties involved. The new law prohibits clauses such as "pay when paid" which have been a source of payment delays, and it introduces a swift and binding adjudication process to resolve payment disputes. This mechanism ensures a more efficient and cost-effective resolution, and significantly lowers the risk of workers being left unpaid, thus creating a fair and stable business environment.

This legislation is a significant stride towards enhancing payment security mechanisms in the industry. The CIC will fully collaborate with the Development Bureau to support its implementation. The support will include producing relevant materials and videos to help the industry understand the intent and details of the Ordinance, conducting training and briefing sessions, and providing relevant guidelines.

Prior to the implementation of the remaining provisions of the Ordinance in August this year, the Development Bureau and the CIC are dedicated to the preparation work, and engage with stakeholders to jointly drive progress in the industry.

While compliance is only the basic requirement for professionals, professionalism is the foundation upon which construction professionals build their careers. Professionalism ensures safety, quality, and efficiency of projects, as well as credibility of our industry. I firmly believe that upholding professional ethics earns client trust and public confidence, and ultimately leads to tangible rewards. Excellence and self-improvement provide opportunities for personal growth and a sense of accomplishment that enables us to proudly say, "I am a construction professional!"