Opportunities for Surveyors in Development of Qianhai, Shenzhen
Representatives of the Institute (including the Senior Vice President together with Council Members from the Building Surveying Division and Quantity Surveying Division) as well as the Hong Kong Institute of Architects are invited by the Development Bureau for meeting with a delegation from the Bureau of Housing and Construction of Shenzhen Municipality (深圳市住房和建設局) held at Murray Building on 16 August 2011. The delegation consisted of more than ten members, which was led by the Vice Director of the Municipality, Mr Duan. Their study missions for the visit to Hong Kong included the following:
- Understanding of the professional service provided and professional practice of Architects, Building Surveyors and Quantity Surveyors for the projects in and outside Hong Kong;
- Operation of the professional / consultants firms;
- Organization and operation of HKIS;
- Statutory requirements and private practice of project management;
- Co-operation and Implementation of mutual recognition of professional qualification;
- Difficulties found in professional practice in Guangdong Province and Shenzhen;
- Difficulties found in establishment of professional firms, including registration for appropriate qualification in Mainland;
- Proposal for professional service provided for the Development of Qianhai, Shenzhen; and
- Development of green buildings in Hong Kong.
The meeting started with some PowerPoint presentation for the project development by the Government of HKSAR by representatives of Development Bureau and followed by discussion/Q&A sessions.
The delegation visited HKIS on the second day. After watching the promotion video of the Institute at our Board Room, the President with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of BSD and QSD had a meeting with them. The chief delegate, Mr Duan, introduced the proposed development of Qianhai, Shenzhen, which included the pilot scheme for introducing financial, insurance, logistic, information technology and professional services from Hong Kong and overseas in this 15 Ha development. Professionals from Hong Kong may set up their firms there with some stringent qualification requirements exempted. The delegation was briefed with the differences in management and control of the professional firms between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Another meeting for in depth discussions for further cooperation between the professional firms at Shenzhen and Hong Kong with the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hongkong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Administration of Qianhai Bay Bonded Port of Shenzhen has been arranged in early September 2011 in Shenzhen.
Raising Quantity Surveyors' Profile and Status, Singapore and Hong Kong
The President and five QSD Council Members met the three representatives from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore at our offices on 29 August 2011. They are Mr William Tan, Director, Ms Ng Siew Kuan, Deputy Director and Ms Karen Tan, Senior Executive Development Officer of the Business Development Division. The purpose of the visit is to find out a more effective way to raise the profile of the Quantity Surveying profession and also to
attract adequate quality graduates to join the QS profession.
Subsequent to the brief introduction of each individual participant, Mr Tan told us the registration system of Architects and Engineers, but there is no such a requirement for Quantity Surveyors in Singapore. It is quite often in Singapore that general public will approach the Architect instead of the Surveyors in the first place for proposed development, redevelopment and renovation works. In Singapore, youngsters who enrol surveying courses in the university are diminishing in number, which in turn, there are less people entering the Profession. It was raised in the discussion that career prospect, social status, job satisfaction and wages are key elements for attracting the young generation in the surveying courses of the universities and entering the Profession.
Career opportunities in the Government of HKSAR, such as Architectural Services Department and Housing Department, are exclusive for candidates with Quantity Surveying professional qualification, which is different from Singapore. It is very important to have the Government's recognition in order to help promoting the image of Quantity Surveyors.
Secondary School visits and career talks by the Institute/QSD are very useful and effective for introducing the surveying profession to the youngsters and the public.
HKIS Quantity Surveying Division Scholarship Presentation Ceremony
The presentation ceremony for the HKIS QSD Scholarship will be held on 8 September 2011, 18:30 at the Surveyors Learning Centre of HKIS. Members of the Selection Committee finally confirmed all the awardees after serious consideration. The scholarships are awarded to students studying the following courses of the local universities:
- BSc (Hons) in Surveying of the City University of Hong Kong;
- ASc (Surveying) of the City University of Hong Kong;
- BSc (Hons) in Surveying of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University;
- Higher Diploma in Building Technology and Management (Surveying) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and
- BSc (Surveying) of the University of Hong Kong.
We have our pleasure in inviting the following donors for presenting the scholarship to the awardees. HKIS Office Bearers, Members of the HKIS Executive Committee, teaching staff from the universities, students and theirs guests and QSD Council Members will join the ceremony, too.
- Beria Consultants Limited
- Davis Langdon & Seah Hong Kong Limited
- Donald L Reader
- K C Tang Consultants Limited
- KCI Management Consultancy Limited
- KL Partnership Limited
- KPK Quantity Surveyors (HK) Limited
- Northcroft Hong Kong Limited
- NQS(BJ)
- Rick’s Management Consultancy Limited
- Rider Levett Bucknall Limited
- RMC Surveyors Limited
- TLS & Associates Limited
- Widnell Sweett Limited
Actually, thank you for the continuous support of the above donors. The HKIS QSD Scholarship is now under review by a Working Group comprising Mr. Daniel Ho, Mr. Patrick Yip and Dr. Sandy Tang. Announcement for recruiting sponsorship will be issued in September 2011 and hope to receive your encouraging response
