The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors Annual Conference 2019: Sheds Light on Digital Transformation of Global Real Estate

Carrying the theme �Innovation: Revitalising Construction”, the property and construction sector is called on to embrace innovations to revolutionise the way how real estate is managed and built

 

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 21 September 2019 - To improve efficiency, cut down on costs, facilitate collaboration and
streamline project workflow, the
property and construction sector should proactively pursue digital
transformation to stay ahead of the game, which is the consensus among the 250 industry leaders,
academics and government officials who attended the Annual Conference of the Hong
Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) held today (21 September 2019) at the JW
Marriott Hong Kong.

 

Celebrating the 35^th Anniversary,
the HKIS boasts more than 10,500 members and is the only surveying professional
body incorporated by ordinance in Hong Kong. As the group’s flagship event, the
annual conference is one of the region’s most high-profile gatherings for
industry leaders and professionals from the government and private sector. 

 

Speaking at the conference, the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael
Wong, said that the Government has been facilitating the construction
industry in adopting innovative ideas and harnessing advanced technologies and
innovative construction methods to enhance productivity and improve
cost-effectiveness, including, amongst others, pushing forward the adoption of
Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and the fuller use of Building
Information Modelling (BIM) as well as the newly launch Centre of Excellence
for Major Project Leaders.

 

Following Mr Wong’s inspirational welcome
speech was the speaker series, with the welcome speech made by HKIS President Sr Dr Tony Leung Ka-tung. “We live in evolving times as technology continues to transform the
way we work. Not only do these changes promise opportunity for our
professionals, but they also promise the potential of higher living standards
and lower living costs for the wider population,” he said. “Our government and community leaders have certainly
understood the need to push Hong Kong further into becoming a smart city. It is
this sentiment that drives today’s conference theme — “Innovation: Revitalising
Construction”.

 

“The conference examines and encourages the
early introduction of smart technologies, projecting future, framing the current landscape trends and spelling out the challenges
and opportunities ahead as the industry continues to undergo a digital
transformation,” Sr Dr Leung added.

 

Among the most keenly anticipated talks was that
by Sr Dr Stephen Lai Yuk-fai, JP, Managing Director of Rider Levett Bucknall Limited, on the causes of
rising construction costs and the importance of developing and using new
technologies to enhance construction efficiency amid economic uncertainties Dr Alexia Nalewalk, Professor, American University, further delivered an insightful lecture on the risk analysis of construction costs. Speaker
from Singapore Mr Allan G H Tan, Managing Director of United Tec Construction
Pte Ltd, talked about the benefits of employing Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction, including
shorter construction time, better quality and less environmental pollution.

 

As Hong Kong continues to transform itself
into a smart city, the deployment of a citywide Common Spatial Data
Infrastructure (CSDI) and how to integrate it with BIM/GIS will lay
the foundation for Hong Kong’s future success as a smart city, especially when
it comes to master and site planning. Mr Chan Siu Bun,
Ben, Assistant Director/Survey & Mapping of the Lands Department, briefed
the audience on the CSDI implementation progress and what it means for building
professionals. Sr Paul Tsui, Managing Director of Esri China
(Hong Kong) Limited, delivered a talk on how mapping and analytics software
could help with early development
planning.

 

“All the issues discussed play an important
role in shaping the future of our industry, and consequently, our city’s living
standards,” said Sr Edwin Tang, Chairman of
the HKIS Annual Conference Organising Committee and HKIS
Vice-President. “The HKIS aims
to use the annual conference as a platform to discuss about the future
development of Hong Kong with professionals from various sectors to boost construction
industry standards.”

 

List of
speakers and topics downloadable here: http://bit.do/HKISAC2019

Conference
Proceeding downloadable here: http://bit.do/hkis-ac2019proceed

 

Photo Caption :

001
Secretary for Development, Development Bureau,
HKSAR Government, Mr Michael WONG Wai-lun, JP (fourth from the Left), HKIS President Sr Dr
Tony Leung Ka-tung (third from the Left), HKIS Vice-President and Chairman of
the HKIS Annual Conference Organising Committee, Sr Edwin Tang (third from the
right), and the HKIS Office Bearers attended the Hong Kong Institute of
Surveyors’ (HKIS) Annual Conference.

002 Mr
Michael WONG Wai-lun, JP, Secretary for Development, Development Bureau, HKSAR
Government,
attended as the event’s Guest of Honour

003 HKIS
President Sr Dr Tony Leung Ka-tung giving the opening speech

004 About
250 guests attended the HKIS Annual Conference 2019

005 Q&A session with speakers Mr Allan G. H.
TAN, Mr CHAN Siu Bun, Ben, and Mr YU Tak Cheung, JP, and moderator Sr TSE Chi
Kin, Kenny.

 

Please click HERE to download the photos.

About the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors

Established
in 1984, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors is the only surveying
professional body incorporated by ordinance in Hong Kong. As of 8 August 2019,
the number of members reached 10,561 including 6,921 Corporate Members
consisting Fellows and Members — distinguished by the initials FHKIS and MHKIS;
76 Associate Members — distinguished by the initials AMHKIS; and 3,564
probationers and student members. The Institute’s work includes setting
standards for professional services and performance, establishing codes of
ethics, determining requirements for admission as professional surveyors,
access and award the professional qualification, and advance members’
professional knowledge, technical and service standards through continuing
professional development.

 

The
Institute has an important consultative role in government policy making and on
issues affecting the profession. We have advised the Government on issues such
as unauthorized building works, building safety campaign, problems of property
management, town planning and development strategies, construction quality and
housing problems. We are working on amendments to standard forms of building
contract and have issued guidance notes on floor area measurement methods.

 

For more details, please visit the HKIS website at http://www.hkis.org.hk.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hkisofficial