The Spirit of Craftsmanship: Attitude, Skills, Passion, Action

In the construction industry, the spirit of craftsmanship carries profound meaning. It reflects not only a personal commitment to excellence in their trade, but also a deep-rooted passion for professionalism and a strong sense of duty to the industry, society, and the nation. In recent years, the CIC has been actively cultivating the spirit of craftsmanship among local practitioners. By enriching their minds and enhancing their professional skills, the CIC has established a systematic training framework based on four dimensions: Attitude, Skills, Passion, Action. This holistic approach aims to nurture a new generation of construction professionals who exemplify both skill and integrity.

Craftsman with Positive Attitude: Pursuing Excellence with Compassion

At the "CIC - See What I See" event in June, we were honoured to have Ms. Mable CHAN, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics. She emphasised the importance of innovative thinking for the construction industry. Facing challenges such as manpower shortages, complex work processes, and rising costs, she encouraged the construction sector to flexibly apply innovative technologies to enhance the quality of infrastructure project management and construction efficiency.

Ms. CHAN shared the experience from the Lok Ma Chau Loop project. She pointed out the challenges posed by the complex terrain of the Castle Peak Road - Chau Tau section. To improve efficiency and reduce disruption to the environment and the community, the project utilised the Full-Span Bridge Deck Erection Method for the first time. This method involved prefabricated large bridge structures and lifting the entire span onto the bridge piers for assembly. This approach significantly reduced the need for night-time work, road closures, and overall construction time. It successfully minimised the impact on road users and demonstrated the practical benefits of innovative technology in large-scale infrastructure projects.

On another front, the Government included the "Low-altitude Economy" policies in last year's Policy Address. I would like to encourage our industry practitioners to actively explore the application of drones in areas such as construction monitoring and site inspections, which can enhance site safety and management efficiency. Drones are particularly useful in remote or high-risk locations. The CIC is currently exploring training programmes for drone operations, aiming to integrate drones into standard construction workflows and support the broader adoption of smart construction practices across the industry.

The CIC sincerely invites all construction professionals interested in smart construction to visit the "Centre for Future Construction" at the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC)- Kowloon Bay Campus. This is an opportunity to learn about the industry's advanced skills and knowledge, and to seize the opportunity in the transformation and innovation of the construction sector. At the end of last month, representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development also visited the "Centre for Future Construction" and gave the centre very positive comments.

Innovation is a transformation in mindset. The CIC is committed to working together with the government and industry stakeholders to promote the applications of innovative technologies, create real-world testing environments, and accelerate the implementation of smart construction solutions.

Craftsman with Skills: Advancing through Lifelong Learning

The construction industry is founded on skills, and safety skills are of paramount importance among these. In response to the industry's pressing need for safety in work at height, the HKIC has recently launched Hong Kong's first "Certificate of Safe Operation of Mobile Elevating Work Platform" course. Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) are widely used in construction, renovation, and maintenance projects. However, there has been a lack of standardised operation standards and training systems. This new course aims to address this issue by promoting operational safety and efficiency, and fostering a culture of safety on construction sites. The HKIC expects to train over 18,000 people annually, nurturing construction talent equipped with professional skills and safety awareness, thereby safeguarding the safety of our workers.

The course content includes equipment operation procedures, relevant regulations, dynamic risk assessment, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). It also incorporates simulator training and practical operation exercises to enable trainees to familiarise themselves with simulated real-world scenarios and anticipate actual on-site conditions, equipping them to apply their knowledge quickly and adapt to a dynamic working environment. The course integrates theory with practice, covering standard operating procedures, risk management techniques, and the application of the Smart Site Safety System (4S). It provides practitioners with comprehensive safety training. To facilitate the participation of ethnic minorities, the course is also offered in English, reflecting the spirit of diversity and inclusion in the construction industry.

Craftsmanship with Passion: Professionalism and Precision

A craftsman must be dedicated to the quality of their work and have self-respect. Every two years, the CIC holds the "Outstanding Apprentice Award" to recognise apprentices who demonstrate excellence in skill, knowledge, and attitude, thereby encouraging more aspiring individuals to join the construction industry and promoting the succession of the craftsman's soul. This year, the 4th "Outstanding Apprentice Award" recognised a total of 10 winners from the "Supervisor Apprentices" and "Craftsmen Apprentices" categories. The winning apprentices are not only highly skilled but also exhibit a proactive and eager-to-learn attitude, alongside a rigorous awareness of safety. They represent the core strength for the future development of the industry.

Frontline managers play a crucial role in connecting all the different functions on a construction site. They bridge the gap between design and construction, and between management and execution, ensuring that projects are completed smoothly, safely and efficiently. Their professionalism and leadership can have a significant impact on the daily work of every team member, and those who excel are highly deserving of recognition. The "Outstanding Frontline Supervisor Award," newly established by the CIC this year, aims to commend frontline management personnel who have demonstrated outstanding performance in site management, team leadership, and safety promotion. The award categories cover a variety of roles on construction sites, including frontline foremen of main contractors, as well as frontline supervisors and gangers of specialist contractors and subcontractors. This reflects the value and contribution of these diverse roles within the construction industry. Furthermore, special merit awards are also established to recognise peers among frontline managers for their exceptional performance in industry management, professional development, safety promotion, and social contribution.

These awards are not just a personal honour, but also affirm the dedication of professionals across the industry. By recognising exceptional talent, the CIC aims to encourage the adoption of best practices, foster a positive culture and enable the spirit of craftsmanship to shine through in every aspect of construction.

Craftsman in Action : Be a Pioneer in our Profession and Love our Country

The CIC has been actively promoting cross-border collaboration to facilitate the exchange of construction technology within the Greater Bay Area. Last month, the CIC co-organised the 6-day "Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) Week". Alongside Ms. Bernadette LINN, Secretary for Development, and Mr. ZHANG Yong, Director-General of the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province, I had the honour of being an officiating guest of the MiC Week, where I witnessed stakeholders from the construction industry in the Greater Bay Area explore the importance and potential of environmentally friendly and efficient MiC in urban development. On that day, the Development Bureau and the CIC jointly published the inaugural "Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) Annual Demand Forecast". It is projected that the total MiC floor area due to be completed between 2025 and 2030 is approximately 2.5 million square metres. To address the huge demand and the need for technological upgrades, the CIC has started developing a "Whole Lifecycle MiC / MiMEP Training System" to ensure that the industry has the necessary manpower.

I also served as a moderator for a panel discussion at the "International Conference on Modular Integrated Construction: New Paradigm" organized by the University of Hong Kong and its MiC Laboratory. The development of MiC in Hong Kong has achieved breakthroughs in local projects and is gradually becoming a regional model. Through the CIC's promotion, I believe that collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland in standard-setting, technological exchange and talent development will become increasingly close. This will inject new momentum into the construction industry and provide a global success story to the construction sector worldwide.

From international perspective to local practice, from technical training to innovative applications and from cultivating talent to passing on our legacy, the CIC relentlessly drives the industry towards higher professional standards and social value. In the future, we will continue to walk hand-in-hand with the industry, building our city with integrity and craftsmanship, to create a brighter tomorrow for Hong Kong's construction industry.