Since the coronavirus outbreak, various sectors in Hong Kong in particular the medical professionals are fighting against the spread of the virus and treating patients. As a professional institution in society, the HKIE is dedicated to taking our part through our engineering expertise to fight against the virus spread. We have provided support to the engineering and construction practitioners, media and general public in multiple areas since February 2020.

We have committed to echo and work with the Government’s appeal to fight against the spread of the disease in the community to safeguard the health of the people in Hong Kong. We have also written to the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) updating them on the work that the engineering profession have put in and proposal of possible solutions that could help and showing our commitment to offer any assistance that our community may need.

President's Message (for Session 2019/2020)

- First Message (19 February 2020)

- Second Message (25 March 2020)

- Third Message (7 May 2020)

Supporting engineering and construction practitioners

- Donation to CIC’s Campaign

With the aim to help Hong Kong fight against the challenge, the HKIE gives full support to the Construction Industry Council (CIC)’s Campaign to help those registered construction workers in Hong Kong at this difficult time. Members are encouraged to raise fund for the Campaign. Ir Ringo S M YU, President of the HKIE for Session 2019/2020, has made a dollar-to-dollar matching donation on the total amount raised from members for this Campaign at a maximum amount of HK$300,000. Full details of the Campaign and donation form could be found on the CIC’s website at http://www.cic.hk/chi/main/caring_campaign/.

Caring and support for the community

- In the media

The Institution constantly strives to offer professional engineering views to facilitate public understanding of topical issues. Recently, various media have invited HKIE representatives to provide professional views on the quarantine facilities and hospitals for tackling the coronavirus outbreak in the community.

And we have received several enquiries from the media about the working proposal using Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method to convert standard containers into negative-pressure chambers. Senior Vice President for Session 2019/2020 Ir Prof P L YUEN and Immediate Past President for Session 2019/2020 Ir Prof Thomas K C CHAN of the HKIE are investigating the utilisation of the proposal to fight against the outbreak.

Relevant News Coverage 

- Publication: Public safety of Building Maintenance and Repair

The Institution has reviewed and updated our publication "公眾安全系列指南：樓宇保養維修", which was first published in 2013 and serves to raise the public awareness of public safety of building maintenance and repair. It is hoped that the updated publication with our professional inputs will provide useful references to the public in dealing with the common problems of drainage pipes, sewage pipes or other devices, in order to assist the public to prevent the spread of virus. Some chapters of the publication have been recently updated and is now available for public viewing at https://www.hkie.org.hk/en/membership/others_sgbm/.

Cover of "香港工程師學會公眾安全系列指南：樓宇保養維修 – 供水及排水系統篇(2020年修訂版)"

- Cheering up the community through participation in the songs “疫境同行” and “抗疫同舟”

Songs raise spirits during tough times. Invited by the Law Society of Hong Kong in March 2020, Ir Ringo YU representing the HKIE, together with medical, legal, architectural and accountant professionals and singers, cooperated to release a song named “疫境同行” to fill everyone with positive energy to fight against the virus. In April 2020, Ir Ringo YU again joined hands with Government departments and the construction sector to record another song named “抗疫同舟” to support industry practitioners to overcome the difficult times. 

Ir Ringo YU (1st row, right 1st) cooperated with other professionals and singers to produce the song "疫境同行"

Ir Ringo YU (right 1st) and other professionals in the production of the song “抗疫同舟”

- Activities organised by Divisions

To prevent and control the spread of coronavirus in buildings, the HKIE Building Services Division and the CIC co-organised in March 2020 two sessions of webinars on building services design and installation against the outbreak of COVID-19. Professional engineers were invited to share their practical experience and insights in the design of air-conditioning, ventilation, and plumbing and drainage systems. Moreover, the HKIE Nuclear Division arranged an online technical seminar in April 2020 discussing the application of plasma technology to kill germs.

Details of the webinars and seminar can be viewed on the websites at http://bs.hkie.org.hk/en_it_news_details.aspx?ID=797&&TypeName=What's+new and http://ne.hkie.org.hk/en_it_events_inside_Past.aspx?EventID=311&&TypeName=Events+/+Activities respectively.

Immediate measures taken by the Institution

Ir Ringo YU, personally donated 250 masks each week for 10 weeks to the institution Secretariat to keep the operation of the Secretariat and in serving the members.

On the other hand , the Institution have put on hold all meetings and events to be held at the HKIE Headquarters and outside venues starting 3 February 2020, allowing members devoting more efforts to come up thoughts and various issues relating to controlling the spread of disease from the engineering perspective that would ease the crises, sooner and better.

- Distribution of masks

Shortage of surgical masks has become an imminent issue facing the people in Hong Kong. Ir Dr The Hon W K LO, Representative of the Engineering Functional Constituency of the Legislative Council, has generously passed the donation of 73,000 masks from the Chairman of the Contractor’s Authorised Signatory Association and anonymous donors to members of the HKIE.

With the joint efforts of the Government, industries and people in Hong Kong, we sincerely hope that the COVID-19 epidemic will soon be over and that our society can resume as soon as possible.

(Last update: 4 September 2020)