Policy Address 2010-11 The Chief Executive announced his Policy Address 2010-11 on 13 October. Sustainable Built Environment, Controlling "Inflated Buildings" and Building Safety are major topics closely related to Building Surveyors. We have prepared a press release to respond to the first two topics and members could view the press release through the following link: http://www.hkis.org.hk/hkis/html/upload/NewsPressRelease/nwpr169_0.pdf. There are committees/working groups under the Institute to take care of Sustainable Built Environment and Controlling "Inflated Buildings" while there is also a working group under the BSD to take care of Building Safety issues. If you have further views regarding the proposals from the Government, you can convey them to me through [email protected] and through any of our Council Members. Last but not the least, we will closely liaise with the PFMD to respond to the paragraphs covering Building Management and Licensing Regime for the Property Management Industry as there are quite a number of Building Surveyors working in the Property Management Industry. Experience sharing of the WOBO Annual Conference 2010 and First Asia/Pacific Symposium of Building Officials The above CPD Event has been deferred from July to September and subsequently cancelled owing to unsatisfactory subscription. The presentation materials have been uploaded to our website and you can gain access through the following link: http://www.hkis.org.hk/hkis/html_bsd/professional_cpd_detail.jsp?id=755 Updating of Codes of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment and Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Installations and Equipment The Fire Services Department (FSD) informed the Institute that there has been planning to update the above Codes of Practice. Subsequent to our submission of comments on the current Codes of Practice, Mr Vincent Ho and Mr Kenny Tse represented the Institute to meet representatives from the FSD on 6 October for elaboration of our comments. We hope our comments will be properly reflected in the coming update. Climate Policy Forum cum Workshops The Institute was invited to join the above event held on 30 September organized by the WWF-Hong Kong, Arup and Hong Kong Green Building Council which aimed to consolidate a response to the Public Consultation on Hong Kong Climate Change Strategy and Action Agenda (Climate Consultancy Study) recently released by the Government of Hong Kong SAR (related link: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/climate_change/consult. html). The public consultation focused on reduction of green house gas/reducing carbon footprint. Most of the publicity concentrated on topics like revamping fuel mix a building professional, members should notice that buildings in Hong Kong consume 90% of the electricity generated. Therefore maximizing energy efficiency by improving energy efficiency at buildings which includes reducing energy demand of air conditioning and other major electrical equipment will form a vital part in reduction of green house gas. Apparently, the Government will gradually tighten up the requirements in buildings through the proposed Building Energy Codes and by reducing the OTTV values and energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances. We should bear this in mind and keep ourselves update when we plan for renovation projects or take up the upcoming of energy retrofitting projects in existing buildings. City University Information Day 2010 Chairman of the QSD, PFMD and I were invited to attend a briefing session on Surveying Programme for more than 120 secondary school students together with their parents held in the City University on 9 October. During the session, the Institute? corporate video has been shown and job natures of surveyors of different divisions building surveyors are being employed. We believe our briefing could raise interest of the secondary school students to join the Surveying degree courses. Steering Committee for Consultancy Study on Design and Construction Requirements for Residential Buildings for Energy Efficiency The Buildings Department has commissioned Messrs Ronald Lu and Partners (HK) Ltd. to conduct a consultancy study with a view to draw up mandatory design and construction requirements under the Building Ordinance for improvements on energy efficiency in residential buildings. The consultancy study was commenced in August 2010 and is expected to be completed within nine months. Our Vice-Chairman, Mr Vincent Ho, will represent the Institute to join the Steering Committee to guide the study and monitor the progress.