The Government is proactively promoting “Construction 2.0” by advocating “Innovation”, “Professionalisation” and “Revitalisation” to lead the industry to make changes and enhance its performance, so that it is ready to capitalise on development opportunities and scale new heights. In particular, to achieve sustainable development, the construction industry must attract more young people to join so as to facilitate the passing on of experience and knowledge. Last year, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) organised the first “Construction Industry Outstanding Young Person Award” (CIOYPA) to commend and recognise the achievements of outstanding young practitioners in the industry. For “My Blog” of this week, I have specially invited two young awardees to share the stories of their lives in the construction industry and how they become “men with broad shoulders and brilliant ideas”, shining in their respective fields and positions.

When WONG Wai-lun meets WONG Wai-lun

Coincidentally, one of the construction industry outstanding young persons (under the design and management category) is also called WONG Wai-lun (the forms of the Chinese characters for the word “lun” in our names are not the same) and his English name is the same as mine – Michael. This young WONG Wai-lun, Michael, is in no way simple. While striving for continuous self-improvement for years after joining the industry, he also has the courage to accept challenges and seize opportunities to build for the future.

Michael enrolled in the Foreman Training and Safety Supervisor Course run by the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) (the predecessor of the Hong Kong Institute of Construction) in early years. After graduation in 1999, he started off as an apprentice and took various awards including the Construction Industry Young Lo Pan Award, Outstanding Apprentice Award, Safe Foreman Award. He continued with his studies while working, and was promoted to senior project manager from project officer, completing quite a number of large-scale works projects with his teams over the years. Recently, he led a team of more than 100 workers to complete the Xiqu Centre project in the West Kowloon Cultural District. He is now participating in the Kai Tak Sports Park project. He insists on continuous studies and believes in life-long learning to enhance his skills and abilities.

Not giving up after a failure and making a comeback

Another construction industry outstanding young person (under the frontline construction personnel category), Mr KWOK Chi-yen, Will, is also in no way simple. Despite his young age, he has already experienced ups and downs in his career and developed a spirit of perseverance and “never giving up”. After graduating from a painting course run by the CITA in 2008, Will also started off as an apprentice like Michael. In 2014, he established a decoration works company. Although his company closed down one year later due to cash flow problems, instead of giving up, he seized the opportunity to further his studies by completing minor works contractor courses and professional indoor drafting courses. In 2017, he made a comeback by opening a new decoration company. He gained recognition from the industry by earning the Outstanding Efficiency Award on an online decoration platform the following year. With his talent and professional abilities in paint application, he has invented an easy-care craft wall on which one can draw and write graffiti. He has been granted a patent for his invention.

Nomination for the second Construction Industry Outstanding Young Person Award starts

Michael and Will work hard and pursue self-enhancement while bearing in mind to make contribution to the community by participating in volunteer work to help those in need. I believe that this is also the reason why they were selected as the construction industry outstanding young persons. Besides these two construction industry outstanding young persons, I know there are also other outstanding young persons from the commercial, academic and other fields striving hard in this industry.

For the young people interested in joining the current second CIOYPA, Michael advises that participants should have self-confidence, humility and, most importantly, possess leadership qualities. He says that, as an outstanding young person, one must have a sense of mission to lead the industry to keep raising the quality of the construction industry. Will also gives two tips to participants: love and the never-give-up spirit. He hopes more young people will pull together to boost the development of the industry and assist people in need.

Continue to press ahead with works projects

Under the epidemic, many industries including the construction industry have been affected. Will says frankly that property owners are reluctant to renovate their homes under such circumstances. We are concerned about the employment situation of the construction industry and the Government will continue to work hard to help the industry to recover early. A number of measures to support the construction industry have been introduced under the first two rounds of Anti-epidemic Fund. All works departments will continue to make greater efforts to implement works projects of various sizes that will benefit the community for employing more workers. As at July this year, the Legislative Council had endorsed more than $170 billion in capital works funding in the 2019/20 legislative session. With these projects coming on line, we expect the employment situation of the construction industry to further improve.