The trip’s purpose was to proactively engage with the local counterparts such as the Buildings Department, HKSAR government, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), and the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA); to highlight the Association’s CEng and CEnv licences with the Engineering Council and the Society for the Environment respectively; understanding membership demography and expertise, and to discuss professional development and CPD. 

Mr. Harral’s tour included meeting with policymakers to support positive change in the built environment and construction industries. He delivered a talk on the Grenfell Tower disaster to the Buildings Department,

 HKSAR Government, to share the UK’s experience of the tragic event and consequences to date, followed by a Q&A with the Department’s senior management. Feedback on the seminar was overwhelmingly positive; CABE is committed to continuing these valuable sharing opportunities to enhance the knowledge of built environment professionals. (A) (B).

Another component of the visit was a session guiding prospective applicants on CABE Membership, hosted by Mr. Harral, in which he also explained the Engineering Council and Society for the Environment registrations that the Association is licenced to award. The briefing session was a good opportunity to educate the next generation of building engineers on the benefits of joining CABE.

Mr. Harral also spoke with current CABE members in Hong Kong interested in volunteering as MCABE Panel Assessors; the chapter is looking to encourage more current members to get involved and help the Association grow by assessing applicants. The CEO also provided a separate training session to CABE members registered as CEng, equipping them to become future CEng assessors for candidates within the APAC region. (F and G)

Ties were strengthened with HKIE courtesy of a visit that featured discussions exploring the mutual recognition under the Washington Accord which could facilitate CABE Members using CEng registration to attain recognition by HKIE. (C)

Mr. Harral and Hong Kong chapter staff visited the PMSA and expressed the Association’s interest in becoming a recognised professional body.  They were given a detailed introduction and briefing session by PMSA and agreed to work closely with them over the coming months to see how best to collaborate on improving the recognition of CABE members in Hong Kong. (D)  

An MOU was signed with the School of Professional Education and Executive Development, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPolyU SPEED), which allows for academic partnership renewal with CABE and ensures that HKPolyU SPEED students are eligible for CABE Student membership. (G)  

CABE relations with the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKICM) and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) were also reinforced, with Harral and the Hong Kong Chapter Chair Kyran Sze attending their annual dinner and fostering stronger communications.

After such a positive visit, CABE’s Hong Kong Chapter anticipates an exciting year of developments and collaborations across 2025. We look forward to assisting in new management initiatives throughout the new year to help CABE members excel further in their professional roles. 

#cabehk

Photos of the trip

Photo A Senior management of the Buildings Department, HKSAR, and: Mr. Kyran Sze, CABE Hong Kong Chapter Chair (4^th from left), Ms. Clarice Yu, Director of Buildings, HKSAR (5^th from left), Mr. Richard Harral, CABE CEO (6^th from left) and Mr. Ho Chung-hung, Deputy Director of Buildings (7^th from left)

Photo B - Staff members of the Buildings Department, HKSAR, attend Mr. Harral’s talk on Grenfell Tower.

Ms. Vivian Sie, CABE General Manager, Asia Pacific Region (1st from left), Mr. Eric Chan, CABE Hong Kong committee member (2nd from left), Mr. Richard Harral, CABE CEO (3rd from left), Ir Alcohol Mok, Council Member, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (4th from left), Mr. Kyran Sze, CABE Hong Kong Chapter Chair (5^th from left), Mr. Wilbur Pang, Association Director – Professional Standards & Services, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (6^th from left).

Photo D: Mr. Alan Siu, CEO of the Property Management Services Authority (left) and Mr. Richard Harral, CABE CEO (right)

Photo E Dr Jason Chan, Associate Dean (Information and Development) of the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) and Director of the School of Professional Education and Executive Development, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPolyU SPEED) (left) and Mr. Richard Harral, CABE CEO (right)