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Taking pride in being part of the construction industry

With the local epidemic situation gradually subsided, the SAR Government has been consolidating our anti-epidemic efforts, with a view to facilitating the steady recovery of different sectors. Taking the construction sector for instance, its latest unemployment rate has declined by 0.6 percentage point to 10.9%. Although the rate is still at a high level, we believe that the employment situation of the sector could gradually improve if we can sustain our efforts in fighting the virus and establish proper and safe anti-epidemic barriers in worksites.

Infrastructure development plays a role in improving the living quality of people. The Government has been making substantial investment in different infrastructure projects such as housing, hospitals and road networks, boosting our public works expenditure to an annual average of over HK$100 billion in the coming few years. Together with private development projects, the total construction volume will stand at an annual average of about HK$ 300 billion, creating more than 300 000 jobs. This reflects the continuing strong demand on construction services in Hong Kong.

I attended the ceremony for the completion of development project of HKIC campuses and delivered my congratulatory remark last week.

Nonetheless, Hong Kong construction sector is facing various challenges, particularly the ageing of manpower and backwardness in technology. We have been adopting a multi-pronged strategy to address the problems, including applying new technologies, providing professional training and rejuvenating the workforce.

Innovative technology

Introducing new technology to the industry could increase productivity, enhance the quality of works and the safety in worksites. In my 2018 Budget, I set up a HK$1 billion Construction Innovation and Technology Fund to encourage and support the industry to adopt technology and innovative construction methods, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), and also help to boost the practitioners’ capabilities in applying technology. Furthermore, Digital Works Supervision System has been adopted in all public works projects since last year so that the latest technology can be applied in different aspects including planning, construction and works supervision, which could also help enhance the safety, efficiency and quality of works.

Apart from adopting innovative technology in works, the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC) has included innovative technology in its training programme since its establishment in 2018. For instance, the HKIC - Kwai Chung Campus provides the first Safety Experience Training Centre, which incorporates virtual reality (VR) and other sensory experience into its safety training courses so as to raise awareness of the industry and trainees in construction site safety and prevent accidents in workplace. Also, HKIC has introduced the using of emulators in welding and crane operation courses so that students can learn the needed skills in a safe environment.

Professionalisation and rejuvenation

Skills training is particular important in the construction industry. The Government has allocated a total of HK$620 million over the past decade to the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to train skilled workers required in the sector. Amongst the above total sum, HK$200 million funding was used to support HKIC to increase the allowance for attracting more young people to receive training and join the industry, provide training to upgrade in-service general workers to be semi-skilled workers, and also semi-skilled workers to be skilled workers. By this, practitioners in the industry are provided with a career path through continuing learning.

HKIC students explained to us on the latest development of the campuses.

Besides enhancing skills training for practitioners, HKIC also dedicates effort to acquire accreditation for its programmes under the Qualification Framework (QF). At present, full-time certification courses and diploma courses for construction have already obtained recognition under the Framework. HKIC also strives to attain the operator status of “Programme Area Accreditation” at QF level 3, with a view to providing a comprehensive articulation mechanism for continuing learning and a clear career path for full-time graduates. In other words, through the basic training courses and continuing study under HKIC, young people of the construction industry could have three directions of development, i.e. artisans with excellent skills, knowledge-based worksites managing staff, or frontline project supervisory staff.

With the concerted efforts of the Government, CIC and the industry, CIC has provided training to more than 40 000 industry practitioners over the last decade, injecting new workforce to the industry. Through promoting the application of innovative technology, providing professional training and enhancing the career path, the overall image of the industry can be enhanced and more development opportunities can be provided to the practitioners, which in return help attract young people to join the industry.

I attended the ceremony for the completion of development project of HKIC campuses last week to celebrate the completion of the renovation and facilities upgrading works of HKIC’s Kowloon Bay, Kwai Chung and Sheng Shui campuses. Training facilities of the campuses have been consolidated and upgraded to facilitate modern and interactive teaching model and meet the future development needs of the industry. During the ceremony, some students and graduates shared with us their directions of continuing learning and aspirations of the future. Apart from further equipping themselves on skills, innovative technology application and works supervision, some students have planned to pursue higher diploma and aimed at becoming knowledge-based and skilled professionals of the industry. We are pleased to see that the industry has built up a multi-layer model in the passing of knowledge, covering theory, practice and application.

It is also surprising to us that the HKIC students not only possess artisan skills, but also talents in playing trendy music. During the ceremony, a student band performed the school anthem with lyrics jointly composed by teachers and students of HKIC. Their fantastic performance did showcase their professional artisan spirit. I would like to encourage young people that, no matter which sector you work in, as long as you work hard for your aspirations and your goal, you will one day realise your dream and make your own success story.

June 6, 2021