Page 8 - ICE 2023 Ebook file

ICE Breaker 2023 Messages

In the Construction Manpower Forecast for the coming five years just published by CIC, we are concerned
to note the widening gaps between demand and supply at the levels of professionals, technicians, site
supervisory personnel, and construction skilled workers. Making reference to the forecast data, we are
assessing how to enhance the manpower supply through a multi-pronged strategy, including leveraging
local manpower resources, enhancing training and bringing in non-local resources as necessary, as well
as to reduce manpower needs through productivity uplifting measures. Our target is to present the
assessment and a holistic strategy for addressing manpower needs of the construction sector by mid-2023.

An open and fair market is paramount for facilitating competition and incentivising innovation. New
Engineering Contract (NEC) has become the default form of contract for sizeable public works projects,
having yielded evident success in time saving, budget control and productivity improvement. We also see
the benefit of a “cost based” approach in preference to “price based” in contract procurement. Looking
ahead, we will be exploring more on the use of target cost, early contractors involvement, and design-
and-build types of collaborative contracting arrangement. The Security of Payment Legislation (SOPL)
is another important initiative that will come to fruition in the coming year to safeguard the rights of all
parties for proper and timely payment, for which we are very glad to see the industry’s overwhelming
support.

Combating climate change and achieving city resilience is another long term challenge calling for civil
engineers’ foresight and concerted actions. We are working strenuously towards Hong Kong’s pledged
target of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050 with carbon emissions cut by 50% before 2035 as
compared to the 2005 level. Energy efficiency and de-carbonization are embedded in our city planning
and design. Comprehensive pedestrian and cycle track network, district cooling system, communal waste
separation and recycling are some examples of smart solutions to reduce carbon emission and improve
efficiency. To enhance our city’s resilience and liveability, we are also actively pursuing strategic studies
and improvement works covering critical structure resilience, blue-green drainage infrastructure, and
shoreline management and improvement.

As civil engineers, we know only too well of the uncertainties associated with changes. If we are more
certain and confident this time, it is because of the good work that we have done in weathering the storm
for the past years, and as a result, we are more clear where we are heading, we see our respective roles,
and we have the means to do it.

Ricky C K LAU, JP
ICE Representative for Hong Kong
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