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Hong Kong's infrastructure, both in construction standards and building technologies, is of international standard and has been maintaining a leading position globally. In the "World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024", our ranking in "Infrastructure” rose to ninth globally. In addition, Hong Kong's construction industry is well recognised by receiving numerous international awards for its infrastructure projects. Last week, the Development Bureau (DEVB) successfully hosted the first International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit (IIPLS), bringing together some 500 major infrastructure project leaders from over 20 countries, 180 government departments, and private organisations, to have an in-depth experience exchange in infrastructure project management. In terms of promoting innovation in the construction industry, the Building Technology and Research Institute (BTRi) was established in August this year and has progressively initiated its work plans. Let me invite our colleagues from the DEVB, participants of the IIPLS, and the Chairperson of BTRi to share with you the details.

International Infrastructure Project Leadership Summit brings together 500 industry leaders

The theme of the summit is " Strategic Leadership in Managing Complexity and Uncertainty in Infrastructure Delivery " aiming to explore strategies and develop policies for infrastructure projects delivery, while discussing the challenges and opportunities in implementing major infrastructure projects.

Mr LEUNG Wing-hang, Assistant Secretary (Project Capability and Strategy) of the DEVB states that the three-day summit included a welcome ceremony, the main event, and site visits to major infrastructure projects in Hong Kong. Many renowned leaders, experts, and scholars of the engineering field from the Mainland and overseas were invited to share their insights in their presentations and panel discussion sessions on various topics, sharing international construction experiences in delivering and managing large infrastructure projects to enhance project performance.

Mr Paul CHAN, Financial Secretary, states at the Grand Opening Ceremony cum Welcome Dinner of the summit that the global infrastructure development faces numerous challenges, but challenges co-existwith opportunities. As an international financial and innovation center, Hong Kong possesses competitive advantages in many aspects, such as infrastructure financing, construction technology, project operation, and green technology development, which can contribute to the global infrastructure development and innovations of related industries, while creating business opportunities for our construction industry.

As shared in the summit, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to investing in infrastructure and advancing land development projects to promote social and economic development. Despite many challenges, Hong Kong's infrastructure development has remained robust with world-class infrastructure recognised internationally. The Government has taken proactive stances to spearhead the transformation of the construction industry over the past few years, promoting advanced construction methods and materials, integrated digital technologies, as well as adopting new project delivery model. Through exchanges that transcend geographical and sectoral boundaries at the summit, the Government hopes to pool wisdom on the delivery of projects with enhanced efficiency and quality. Also, under the unique advantages of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong would continue to capitalise on the privilege of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, and consolidate its position as an international infrastructure centre, uniting the world's best talents, knowledge and investment to address upcoming challenges and promote quality infrastructure development.

Speaking at the summit, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, Mr LI Liang-sheng, said that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China stressed the need to establish a system for the planning and standardisation of new infrastructure facilities, optimise the mechanism for the integration and utilisation of new infrastructure facilities, promote the digital transformation of conventional infrastructure, expand the diversity of investment and financing channels, and enhance the co-ordination mechanism for major infrastructure development. The summit will inject impetus generated in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into the national development of new quality productive forces. It will further promote international infrastructural co-operation and bring far-reaching significance.

An excellent platform for industry experience sharing

Hon LO Wai-kwok, Legislative Council member (Engineering), believes that the summit is an excellent platform for experience sharing, highlighting Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector" and "super value-adder." He hopes the summit will continue to be hosted. Mr Stephen LAI, the Chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong, states that sharing sessions from overseas and Mainland experts and leaders can broaden the perspectives of Hong Kong engineers on infrastructure projects. Mr Alfred SIT, the Chief Executive and Secretary of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, states that several experts mentioned the importance of a diverse talent pool at the summit. He believes that the industry must emphasise and strengthen the cultivation of young talents, particularly in project delivery capability and innovative mindset, for dealing with complex infrastructure projects in the future. Mr William FONG, the Chairman of the Association of Consultant Quantity Surveyors, states that the summit is an excellent platform to showcase the strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong's infrastructure projects to the globe. He looks forward to the commencement of infrastructure development in the Northern Metropolis and hopes to contribute to the industry with participations by quantity surveyors in these projects.

Building Technology Research Institute enhances project efficiency by innovative technology

The DEVB is also actively promoting the adoption of innovative technology to enhance efficiency in the construction industry, including the establishment of the BTRi in August this year. The BTRi will focus on three major development directions, namely driving applied research and development (R&D), reviewing and uplifting standards, providing accreditation, certification and testing. During the summit, the BTRi signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research, the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, and three local universities, namely the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, to collaborate and promote innovative applicationsin the construction industry.

The Chairperson of the Board of the BTRi, Mr HON Chi-keung, gives a brief account of the initial work plans of the BTRi, which includes driving applied R&D in every aspects. He says that the BTRi will promote the application of high-strength steel S690 and S960 and ultra-high performance concrete. These construction materials are two to three times stronger than traditional materials, which can reduce the amount of material, structural weight and even the scale of the foundation, and also facilitate the prefabrication of related structural components in the factory, so as to achieve the effect of speed, quantity, efficiency and quality.

For uplifting standards, Mr HON states that the BTRi will start from reviewing the building and design standards that have been used in Hong Kong for many years, including the design loading requirements of buildings and the design values of the bearing capacity of the foundation, etc. to effectively improve the efficiency of the project and reduce the construction cost. The BTRi will also facilitate the local application of high-quality and cost-effective construction materials from the Mainland and overseas by comparing and complementing the differences in testing and certification requirements between standards in different regions. In the initial phase, the BTRi will standardise the materials used for noise barriers on the roads. . It is expected future roads works projects can be benefited from it. At the same time, the BTRi has launched the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme) to ensure that the participating MiC manufacturers adhere to strict standards in production processes and quality standards, strengthening quality control. The Scheme will further promote the local application of MiC and is conducive to the development of MiC technology, which will consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international leader in MiC.

Strategic study to enhance project cost effectiveness

Furthermore, the DEVB has always been concerned about the issue of construction costs. To address this problem, the DEVB has conducted a strategic study in the fourth quarter of last year, to compare the costs of different types of project costs in Hong Kong with those in other major cities, delving into the reasons behind the high construction costs in the region. The strategic research identified five main factors contributing to Hong Kong's high construction costs and proposed recommendations from four key directions to strengthen cost management. We will suggest the recommended measures within this year and implement them progressively starting from 2025.

Being an international city, Hong Kong also enjoys the distinctive advantages of strong support from the Motherland and being closely connected to the world. We will leverage our strengths and seize opportunities, as well as drawing on years of experience in delivering and managing large infrastructure projects and the talents we have cultivated for continuous innovation, aiming to establish Hong Kong as an international infrastructure center that serves our city and better integrate into the overall development of the country.