Overview of Council Year 2011–12
Time flies. This is the last message I write as Building Surveying Division Chairman. I have prepared a separate Chairman’s Report for Council Year 2011–2012, which will be posted separately in the next issue of Surveying Times and on the BSD website.
However, I would like to give a brief recap of the major events, businesses, and achievements of the BSD over the past year.
Promotion of Building Surveyors
The promotion of the building surveying profession was undoubtedly the main focus of the BSD over the past year. I reckon that without sufficient public exposure, the attributes of building surveyors would never be acknowledged by society at large. In line with this belief, the BSD hired a public relations consultant to assist it with planning, organizing, and launching a series of promotional events and tasks in the middle of this year. So far, we have successfully attracted much public attention by way of contributing regular articles published in several newspapers and magazines, attendance on TV interview programmes, press conferences on hot social topics, the MBIS workshop for building owners, public talks, etc. The BSD even pitched two profile reports on the building surveying profession in The Hong Kong Economic Times (香港經濟日報) on 21 August and in the South China Morning Post on 13 October. Moreover, we engaged with TVB 財經透視for a special feature on MBIS, which aired on 25 November (details in the following context). The programme gave Sr Kenny Tse and I ample time to introduce the role of building surveyors in building inspection and repair works, as well as to promote building surveyors as the experts of building maintenance and safety.
Still, we are not satisfied with only these achievements. Our promotions will continue and expand our presence not only in the areas of building safety and maintenance, but also in other building design areas in respect of green buildings, energy efficient building designs, and building conversion and upgrading works.
Awareness to Building Inspection and Maintenance and Opportunities with MBIS/MWIS
MMBIS/MWIS is a hot topic in the society as it has been landed the city. Buildings Department has commenced issuing prenotification letters to some of the concerned owners in June 2012 and the first batch of Statutory Notices will be issued in early 2013. The BSD has launched a series of activities such as press conference, workshop, advising the public the estimated budget and the necessary actions if receiving the pre-notification letters / Statutory Notices. The I importance of the Schemes attracted media attention. BSD was invited by TVB Jade to talk about the inspection to buildings and the necessary attention to be paid when selecting and employing consultants/Registered Inspectors to carry out inspection under MBIS/MWIS on 財經透視.
Besides, a young BS member from YSG also appeared in the programme to show her involvement in the industry.
Developments on the Mainland
Tongji University has almost completed a study on the development of building surveying services on the Mainland. The paper entitled, 我國建築測量專業的市場環境及實施策略研究, should be ready for distribution to members after further refinements.
In recent months, the HKIS and, in particular, the BSD have developed a closer relationship and contacts with Qianhai Development Authority (深圳前海管理局) in connection with the development of Qianhai with the assistance of Shenzhen Project Management Engineers Association. Sr Fu Xiao Ming of the association gave a brief account of the potential careers and job opportunities for our building surveyors in Qianhai during the 2012 Building Surveyors Conference held in October.
Development of professional practices
To support and guide the continued development and enhancement of the building surveying practice among our BS members, the BSD has commissioned several studies with a view to preparing practice guidelines for our members.
We announced in October the research results on repair and maintenance cost data, as well as the professional fee scale for building inspections and repairs. These data and fee references are considered very useful by the public and the government. Many media outlets have also delivered positive reviews of our publications.
After two years’ hard work by the working group and its consultant, the research and report on the water seepage investigation is almost complete. The practice guide resulting from the study is undergoing final editing and I hope the final guidebook will be available by the end of the year.
Another important research and practice guide writing on building inspection formally commenced a few months ago. I hope the practice guide can be ready soon so that it can provide a useful and practical guide to our members when they conduct building inspections and, in particular, when they handle MBIS inspection.
Education and Training
The New BSD APC Rules and Guide have been in effect since 1 September. I trust that under the revamped assessment regime, probationers can more readily proceed to the final assessment under a more predictable time frame and schedule.
This year has been fruitful for the BSD, as we have a total of 33 new professional members and 153 new probationers joining the building surveying profession.
Outreach to the City University of Hong Kong
A group of BSD representatives, including Sr Kenny Tse, Sr Daniel Pong, Sr Arthur Cheung, and I, visited and met with a group of final year surveying degree students at City University on 15 November. We took the opportunity to introduce the role and duties of building surveyors, as well as the career prospects of BS graduates in both the private and public sectors. Job opportunities were also offered to students by some of our representatives during the meeting in the hopes that the industry can convince more graduates to join the profession before they graduate.
Talks with building owners in Tuen Mun on Building Maintenance and Repairs
I delivered a talk on the Building Management Certificate Course that is jointly conducted by the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Home Affairs Department in Tuen Mun on 21 November.
I advised owners on the proper approach and arrangement in performing building inspections and hiring repair consultants and repair works contractors. I also outlined the major roles and duties of professional consultants in such building inspection and repair works with a view to assisting the owners to avoid the “traps”. The owners were keen to know how they could distinguish a capable
professional consultant from an incompetent one.
BSD AGM 2012
By the time you read this message, I will have stepped down from the Chairmanship of the BSD Council after the BSD’s Annual General Meeting on 30 November. I take this opportunity to thank you for the guidance, advice and support all BS members and BSD council members have offered me. I sincerely wish the incoming council, Chairman, and office bearers every success in the coming year.
Bye-bye!
