Education and Careers Expo 2011 Thanks to the YSG in organising a team of energetic young surveyors and students in hosting the exhibition booth at the Careers Expo held on 17 to 20 February 2011! I attended the event and witnessed the zealous enquiries from many youngsters and parents on our Surveying Profession. I took the opportunity to present the prospects and career opportunities of Building Surveyors to a reporter of Recruit and hoped for widening publicity on the Building Surveying Profession via the media. Finalised new GFA Concessions Policy of Buildings Department As reported in last month's Surveyors Times, the government is going to take a big change on the policy in granting GFA concessions for new development projects following the policy address of Chief Executive in October last year. A set of new and revised PNAPs/JPNs has been issued on 31 January 2011 to stipulate the new criteria and requirements in granting GFA concessions by the BD, LD and PD as appropriate. Members are advised to take a detailed study of the new and revised PNAPs/JPNs in preparation for advice to clients for any new projects. Meanwhile, I wish to draw members' attention to the following new requirements: (a) 10% overall cap on GFA concessions (b) Criteria for GFA Exemption for carparking spaces (c) Building set back (d) Building separation (e) BEAM Plus certifcation (f) Energy Performance Assessment Members should pay attention to the effective date of the new policy as stipulated in the new PNAPs/JPNs that: "For building plans which have been frstly submitted on or before 31 March 2011 and subsequently disapproved by the BA but not on ground relating to proof of ownership date of disapproval of the firstly submitted plans would not be subject to the requirements of this practice note. For the avoidance of doubt, if such first resubmission of plans eventually has been disapproved by the BA, any further resubmission of the plans would be subject to the requirements of this practice note." The BSD has invited the Buildings Department to deliver a briefing session to our members on the content and implementation details of the new policy in mid-March. Members are advised to take note of the announcement of the event via HKIS email broadcast. Media Presence BSD spokesman, Mr Andrew Kung (BSD vice-chairman) and I attended the media luncheon of the Institute held on 15 February 2011. We met many representatives of major media. It was a casual gathering allowing our spokesmen to acquaint with the reporters and to build up a network for future communications. This month, I have spoken on various issues including the new government policy on GFA concessions, open kitchen design in many common home renovations, new government policy on UBW control etc. through the newspapers. I also attended a live programme at Metro Info (新城知訊台 [集知新時代]) promoting BS expertise on pre-purchase inspection and hand-over inspection as well as record a programme at Metro Finance (新城財經台 [新城地產街]) commenting on issues relating to the new GFA concessions policy and its implications to the recent land sale at Yuen Long. Mr David Chan presented in an ATV programme on 1 February 2011 regarding the suspected building vibration of an old building at Wan Chai due to adjoining foundation works. New Fire Safety Code A new Fire Code consolidating the extant Code of Practice for Means of Escape in case of Fire 1996 ("MOE Code 1996"), Fire Resisting Construction 1996 (FRC 1996) and Means of Access for Fire Fighting and Rescue 1995 (MOA 1995) is being ?nalised by the Buildings Department which will be formally issued in May or June this year. As advised by the Buildings Department, the new fire code has included more defnition of terms revamping the overall presentation of the Codes, updating and amending some fire safety criteria and requirements. The new Code is anticipated to take effect for any projects with foundation consent granted on or after 1 December 2011. The new Code contains major changes to the current codes being used and I trust members will take time to learn and prepare for the adoption of the new Code. BSD will organize a technical briefing session for members on the new Fire Safety Code once it is formally launched. BSD Representatives to Board of Membership Please note there was a typo error made in the last issue of Surveyors Times regarding the BSD representatives nominated to the Board of Membership. Apart from Mr Kenneth Yun, the other representative to this Board is Professor Barnabas Chung.