Dear Members,
The first quarter of 2022 remains challenging amid the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. The impacts on the entire society including the construction industry are exceptional. Over a million people were infected mainly by the Omicron in this wave up to the time of writing. The disruption of work is inevitable due to the loss of manpower and the cross-border transportation chaos. With the support of the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council, we have implemented the Vaccine Pass arrangement on all construction sites and kick-started the first Construction Industry Covid-19 Testing Day as anti-epidemic measures at construction sites.
In responding to work disruption, we expressed our concerns and offered recommendations through press releases and media interviews. It is grateful to receive positive feedback on relief measures from the Development Bureau. From the social service level, we together with the Society of Builders and Lo Pan Kwong Yuet Tong donated Supermarket and Beverage Coupons worth HK$60,000 to the Hong Kong Single Parents Association to support underprivileged families.
Notwithstanding the impacts of the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, we had successfully held the Construction Management Awards 2022 (CMA 2022) – Awards Briefing Session. The Head Juror of CMA 2022, Ms. YU Po Mei, Clarice, JP, Director of Buildings, shared some useful award-winning tips with the participants. This year two new award categories will be featured which are Large Scale Project (with contract sum above HK$1 billion) and Medium Scale Project (with contract sum below HK$1 billion), both of which will recognize outstanding projects of similar size and scale.
Our new website was put in place in January and the next phase will be rolled out this quarter. With the enhanced design configuration, the new website will provide more value-added services to meet members’ needs. In addition to Facebook, we also registered an Instagram account and a LinkedIn account to provide multiple social media platforms for our members and the public to obtain first-hand information about the institution.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the fundamental way to improve the professional standard and knowledge of individuals on an ongoing basis. HKICM continues to organize various online CPDs during this time for our members to remain competitive in their careers. The CPD workshops covered a wide range of popular topics including Radon of the Building, Carbon Neutrality, NEC Contract, and Excavation & Lateral Support. The variety of CPD subjects would bring benefits to our members by reducing any shortfalls in knowledge which enable us to prepare for future challenges.
To continue celebrating the Institute’s 25th Anniversary, all members (Fellow/Member/Associate/Construction Supervisor/Graduate) are entitled to a complimentary corporate windbreaker and a polo shirt upon renewal of the membership. I look forward to seeing you all wearing the corporate windbreaker and the polo shirt taking photos together in future outreach events when the social distance requirement is lifted. Meanwhile, continue to stay safe and healthy!
Best Wishes,
Cr FUNG Kwok-keung, Conrad
President
1st April 2022
