(Hong Kong, 8 January 2016) – RICS (The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) hosted the Asia Construction Conference 2016 at Cordis Hong Kong today. Distinguished speakers of the Conference included Ir Hon Chi-Keung, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) and Ms Christine Loh Kung-Wai, JP, Under-Secretary for the Environment from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, and also renowned speakers from Shanghai and Singapore.
The Conference addressed a wide range of hot topics affecting development of Asia’s built environment. Over 200 participants engaged actively in discussions covering competitiveness in infrastructure projects, rising construction costs, carbon emission, and listing BIM as the new standard for the construction industry.
Construction cost is rising continuously on global scale. With rapid growth in infrastructure development, Asia is currently faced with challenges as a result of surging costs. Ir Hon Chi-Keung, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Work) of HKSAR Government, said in his opening speech titled “Hong Kong’s capacity in delivering the capital works programme”, “While we are propelling the development of Hong Kong, local construction industry is faced with unprecedented challenges. The recent escalation of construction costs will affect the financial sustainability and the shortage of manpower caused decline in productivity. The Government will promote to strengthen cost control in the industry and enhance training to cope with manpower shortage.”.
The United Nations hosted the climate change conference (COP 21) in Paris in December 2015, during which the Global Alliance for Building and Construction (GABC) was formed by various countries with an aim to bring carbon emission reduction plan to building and construction industry. RICS, being the initiating member in the capacity of global professional body, emphasized the reduction of carbon emission during this Asia Construction Conference 2016. Ms Christine Loh Kung-Wai, JP, Under-Secretary for the Environment of HKSAR Government, presented the “Energy Saving Plan for Hong Kong’s Built Environment 2015-2025+” and suggested, “We have a four-prong approach to promote energy saving through economic, regulatory, education and social mobilization means. Thus, apart from providing incentives and using the law to promote change, we are also engaging stakeholders and the public to change behaviour. Our energy saving efforts are critical to also meeting our climate change goals. You will see a lot of activities in 2016 from government”.”
Mr Tony Ho, RICS East Asia Managing Director said, “As a leading global real estate professional body, RICS has been advocating the highest professional qualifications and standards as always. To tackle challenges and meet low carbon emission targets, RICS and our members will continue to work hand-in-hand with different stakeholders with an aim to enhance competitiveness and promote sustainable development for the industry as a whole.”