Visit to the Architectural Services Department Quantity Surveyors’ Association
Five members of the Quantity Surveying Divisional Council, viz. Vice Chairman, Sr Honby Chan; Honorary Secretary, Sr KL Wong; Chairman of QSD Divisional Education Committee, Sr Raymond Kam; Council Member, Sr Amelia Fok; andI visited the Architectural Services Department Quantity Surveyors’ Association (ArchSDQSA) on 29 June 2012. Its Chairman, Sr Wong Chi Lok, and 12 members of the ArchSDQSA attended the meeting. The meeting started with my introduction of the structure of the QSD and its various Committees and Sub-Committees, followed by Sr Wong’s introduction of the structure of the ArchSDQSA. We then discussed institutional matters. Members of the ArchSDQSA were interested in various topics, such as the new APC System, the development of Building Information Modeling (BIM), the use of NEC in Government projects, practice notes, the promotion of QS to the public, and our research on the fee scale. Our members were also interested in the various procedures in government projects. It was agreed that there should be more collaboration between the QSD and the ArchSDQSA, particularly in the new developments and initiatives in the QS profession. We also appealed for more support for and participation in QSD affairs from the ArchSDQSA.
The 16th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) Congress
The 16th PAQS Congress was held from 7 to 10 July 2012 at the Empire Hotel in Brunei Darussalam. This Congress was organized by the Surveyor Division of Pertubuhan Ukur Jurutera & Arkitek (Institution of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects), Negara Brunei Darussalam (PUJA). The theme of this Congress was “Innovating and Sustaining: Challenges and Opportunities”.
This year, we had 14 members attend the Congress: President, Sr Serena Lau; Past President and also Past Chairman, Sr TT Cheung; Past Chairlady, Sr Dr Professor Anita Liu; Past Chairman, Sr Dr Paul Ho; Vice Chairman, Sr Keith Yim; Council Members, Sr KC Tang, Sr Joseph Chong, and Sr Dr Mei-yung Leung; YSG Members, Mr Jeff Chan, Sr Alison Lo, and Sr Billy Mak; and Members, Sr Dr Ellen Lau, Sr Patrick Lam, and I.
The PAQS is an international organization comprising 13 members from the quantity surveying associations of 12 countries in the Asia and Pacific region. The members of the HKIS have had major involvement in this international organization. This includes:
- Sr TT Cheung, Chair of the Sustainability Committee;
- Sr Dr Paul Ho, Chair of the Research Committee and Member of the Scientific and Technical Committee;
- Sr Joseph Chong, Chair of the Young Quantity Surveyors Group (YQSG)
- Sr Dr Professor Anita Liu, Secretary of the Accreditation and Education Committee and Member of the Scientific and Technical Committee;
- Sr Dr Ellen Lau, Chair of the Scientific and Technical Committee and Secretary of the Research Committee;
- Sr KC Tang, Member of the Accreditation and Education Committee; and
- Sr Dr Mei-yung Leung, Member of the Research Committee and the Scientific and Technical Committee
The PAQS Board Meeting was held on 8 July 2012. It was a whole day meeting that covered reports from the Officers and Committees of the PAQS, as well as those from member organizations. I represented the HKIS by reporting on its major activities and updates since the last Congress in Sri Lanka. Sr TT Cheung and I also represented the HKIS to introduce the 2014 PAQS Congress to be held in Hong Kong. Some highlights of the meeting included:
- Confirmation of PUJA as a Full Member of the PAQS. The total number of Full Members in the PAQS is now ten.
- Sr Dr Professor Anita Liu and Sr Dr Paul Ho received the PAQS Service Excellence Award in recognition of their long and outstanding service in the PAQS and their active involvement in its affairs. Congratulations to Sr Dr Professor Liu and Sr Dr Ho.
- The signing of the Reciprocity Agreement between the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) and the Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL).
The Opening Ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Development of Brunei. It started with the welcome speeches from the PAQS Chairman, Mr Gordon Cairney, and the President of the hosting Association (PUJA), Mr YB Haji Zulkipli Haji Abdul Hamid. Sr Ong See Lian and Professor Dr Roger Flanagan were the Keynote Speakers. There were more than 40 Paper Presenters at this Congress. Among them were our Council Member, Sr Dr Mei-yung Leung, and our members, Sr Dr Ellen Lau and Sr Patrick Lam. The topics of their papers were as follows:
- Relationships Between Architectural Aspects of Facility Management and Elderly Quality of Life (Sr Dr Mei-yung Leung)
- Review of the Role of QS in different Contracts (Sr Dr Ellen Lau)
- A Different Way to Manage Construction Projects and Costs in a Multi-Party Situation (Sr Dr Ellen Lau)
- A Contractual Framework for the Energy Performance Contracting in the Quest for Energy Saving to Achieve Sustainable Development (Sr Patrick Lam, Edwin Chan, Francis Yik, Pan Lee)
The paper, “Review of the Role of QS in Different Contracts,” presented by Sr Dr Ellen Lau, was awarded “Commended for Best Paper (Academic)”. Congratulations to Sr Dr Lau. The QSD will arrange for some of the above members to present their papers to members of the HKIS during the coming CPD events.
We also took the opportunity to further discuss with the President of the Quantity Surveying Division of the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV), Mr Teoh Wooi Sin, on the proposed forum and study tour in Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Singapore co-organized by the two Institutes. The tentative date of the forum is in November this year.
HKIS Diploma Presentation
The HKIS Diploma Presentation was held on 13 July 2012 at the Happy Valley Stand of The Hong Kong Jockey Club. During this presentation, 101 members of the QSD obtained their diplomas. Two dissertations relating to QS aspects, “The Effectiveness of Behavioral Safety Management on the Hong Kong Construction Sites,” by Mok Kin Ping, and “Enhancing Value Management through exploring the existing difficulties,” by Mak Mei Yu, won the First and Second Prize Awards, respectively.
In addition, two QS members, Sr Ricky Chan and Sr Raymond Huang, obtained the Silver Award under the Professional Volunteers Service Programme. Congratulations to all new QS members and the award winners.
Visit by the International Chapter of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
The President of the International Chapter of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS), Sr Dato’ Isahak; Vice President, Sr Peter Ng; and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Manikas, paid their visit to the HKIS on 19 July 2012. The team was welcomed by Our Past Chairman, Sr Dr Paul Ho; Vice Chairman, Sr Keith Yim; Honorary Secretary, Sr KL Wong; and I.
During the meeting, Sr Dato’ Isahak explained the structure of the AIQS and its international chapter. Mr Michael Manikas and Sr Peter Ng further introduced their plan to develop the AIQS in Mainland China. We also discussed the possible cooperation between the two Institutes in organizing CPD events and trainings for our members in Hong Kong, the sharing of information on cost management and
green costing, and the future development of both Institutes in Mainland China.
