(30 NOVEMBER 2018, Hong Kong) A landmark agreement will see land surveyors accredited by both RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and HKIS (The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors) enjoy mutual recognition and benefits, in a joint bid to better prepare the profession for future opportunities.
RICS and HKIS signed mutual recognition agreement of land surveyors (L) Sean Tompkins, Chief Executive of RICS (R) Sr Dick Kwok, President of the HKIS
Members of RICS chartered through a Geomatics pathway (Chartered Land Surveyors) and the Land Surveying Division of HKIS will be encouraged to collaborate and share innovations under the deal, which will see credentials and know-how aligned between professionals from both organisations.
The new agreement follows an earlier partnership signed between RICS and HKIS in March, which secured mutual recognition of valuation surveyors. Both agreements serve to help Hong Kong’s surveyors better prepare themselves for the growing opportunities presented by the ongoing Greater Bay Area development, which has created an unprecedented demand for construction and surveying professionals.
The arrangement also allows Hong Kong’s class of surveyors to capture opportunities presented further afield by China’s historic round Belt and Road Initiative, as well tap into the wider global market, and gain access to the leading knowledge pool possessed by RICS and HKIS.
Clare Chiu, chief operating officer of RICS HK, Taiwan and Macau, said: “This mutual recognition agreement comes at a timely moment from which the entire region stands to benefit, and it is only right we do all we can to ensure all of Hong Kong’s surveyors are best equipped to contribute – at the benefit of both the city and the Greater Bay Area. RICS has long championed the advance and advantages of inter-organisation collaboration, and this landmark agreement represents a meaningful opportunity to serve our ongoing goal of promoting innovation and teamwork, in harmony with HKIS members.”
HKIS President Sr Dick Kwok added: “By sharing qualifications, we fortify the credentials of Hong Kong’s ranks of talented surveyors, allowing them to compete regionally and internationally at this dynamic time of growth and opportunity in the Greater China area. We look forward to collaborating further with our friends at RICS, and continuing our valued role in upholding standards in the industry.”