The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, attended the 2014 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum in Nanning today (November 10). In his opening address, Mr Chan said that Mainland and Hong Kong construction industries could enhance their overall competitiveness and jointly explore international markets through multilevel co-operation.
The theme of this year's forum is "Collaborative Development with a Global Perspective, Integrated Management with Innovative Technology". Speaking on this theme, Mr Chan said, "The Central Government adopted the 'go global' strategy in 1999 to promote overseas investment on the one hand and make use of advanced technology from abroad to cope with competition from overseas companies in the Mainland market on the other. Looking ahead in furthering this, Mainland construction enterprises should adopt three strategies, namely brand building, internationalisation of construction standards and 'glocalisation' of international markets.
"In the promotion and implementation of the above three development strategies, Hong Kong can contribute in such areas as introducing diversified and quality service management for Mainland construction brands, playing the bridging role in internationalisation and providing ancillary services in 'glocalisation'."
Mr Chan said that Hong Kong's construction industry has a full grasp of the international standards and the required experience. It can play a bridging role in assisting its Mainland counterparts to enhance their standards and become more international. Citing green building standards as an example, Mr Chan said there is no uniform international standard at present. The Mainland has established the Green Building Evaluation Label, while Hong Kong has adopted the BEAM Plus assessment and certification. As Hong Kong is familiar with the green building standards of other countries, the Mainland can tap such advantages in facilitating the internationalisation of its Green Building Evaluation Label and win international recognition.
Furthermore, he added, Hong Kong has a large number of building and engineering professionals, who have experience in dealing with diversified procurement models in international construction markets, project management and contract management. Hong Kong can help their Mainland counterparts adopt operation modes that are widely used in international markets, and enhance competitiveness.
Mr Chan mentioned that another issue of concern regarding the "go global" strategy is the ability of Mainland enterprises to resolve disputes. According to statistics, the losing rate of Mainland enterprises in dispute cases with overseas countries is fairly high. Hong Kong has accumulated experience and has achieved a leading position in this regard. Apart from arbitration services, the HKSAR Government has been developing alternative dispute resolution methods, including the introduction of large-scale public works contracts mediation mechanisms in the early 1990s, as well as implementing a voluntary tribunal in 2005 to resolve disputes. Hong Kong's valuable experience could facilitate "glocalisation" on the Mainland and enhance the competitiveness of Mainland enterprises internationally, he said.
In Nanning, Mr Chan met with the Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, Mr Peng Qinghua. Mr Chan and industry representatives from Hong Kong also met with Vice Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Lan Tianli, and officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
Attending the forum with Mr Chan was a 130-member delegation from Hong Kong, comprising representatives from the Development Bureau, construction trade associations and professional institutions, as well as construction industry personnel and the Legislative Council members Dr Lo Wai-kwok and Mr Tony Tse.
Mr Chan will go to Beijing tomorrow (November 11). He will accompany the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, in his visits to central ministries on November 12 and depart Beijing for Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.
Ends/Monday, November 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:52
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