(香港，二零一九年三月二十八日) 香港工程師學會 (下稱「學會」) 就近月有部分會員提交要求召開特別會員大會一事及媒體的相關報導，作出以下聲明。
學會留意到，部分會員於三月十七日召開記者會，指學會處理其要求過久及過於着重細節，質疑有拖延時間之嫌。事實上，學會自二月中旬開始收到個別會員提交的要求。學會必須指出，相關會員的要求並非全部於同一日提交予學會，當中亦有不同的遞交方式，如掛號信或電郵。學會已根據會員登記紀錄以電郵聯絡每位提出要求的會員，以核實其身份及作出跟進，惟因部分會員未有提供聯絡電郵須以掛號信方式聯絡。當中雖然不少會員已即時作出回覆，但有部分會員對身份核實的做法存有疑問故須向他們解釋，而且也有部分會員未有回覆，故學會須要補發電郵或掛號信以期可以與他們取得聯絡。在過去三星期，已處理超過五百次就是次事宜聯絡學會的電郵或電話。
此外，由於有個別會員表示他們僅代表個人行事，並無委任代表，因此，學會未能證實有個別人士聲稱已獲委任代表 116 或 120 名會員是否正確。學會尚等待其他有關未賜覆會員的回應，核實工作仍在繼續進行。因此，聯絡及處理所需的時間比預期為長。此外，考慮到有關數字有機會披露會員的個人資料，及影響學會處理是次要求的公正性，學會現階段不便透露已確認身份的會員人數。
另外，學會經細閱有關會員提出的議程文件內容後，發覺當中部分提出的議程項目並不適合於特別會員大會執行作决議，而若未有適合執行的大會議程，特別會員大會便不可能召開，故學會在三月中旬向已核實身份的會員確認其提出的議程項目，有關處理方法亦已諮詢法律意見。學會認為並不適合及不能夠代相關會員制定特別會員大會議程提出任何建議，但如果會員提出要求，學會將提供文書協助。
學會向來廣納會員意見，嚴格遵照行之有效的既定程序處理各項訴求，因應有會員對學會處理程序有懷疑，學會前任會長黃耀新工程師早前出席部分會員召開的記者會時，已親身解釋學會處理聯署及特別會員大會的程序，藉此向會員闡明學會對處理會員訴求的重視。
學會理事會委派黃工程師處理有關特別會員大會事宜，目的是確保所有提出要求的會員其訴求皆獲適當處理。此外，學會理事會亦已知悉，須在確認有超過六十位法定會員皆提出可執行的特別會員大會議程項目後的二十一天內考慮是否按學會會章代該批會員召開特別會員大會，而上述安排亦已徵詢法律意見及獲得支持。
如就召開特別會員大會有進一步消息，將適時按會章規定通知學會會員。
香港工程師學會
電話：2895 4446
傳真：2882 6825
(28 March 2019, Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) has the following statement to make with regard to the requisition of some members to convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) and the related media coverage.
The HKIE noticed that some members hosted a press conference on 17 March, where they suspected that the HKIE kept delaying in handling the requests, and considered that the handling process was overly long and only focused on details. In fact, the Institution has been receiving the requisitions by individual members since mid-February. It should be pointed out that not all requests were submitted to the Institution on the same day, nor were they delivered by the same means; for example, there were requisitions through registered mails and emails. The Institution has subsequently followed up to contact each of the requesting members via email according to the membership record of the Institution, in order to authenticate their identities. Registered mails were sent to members who did not provide a contact email address to the Institution. During the authentication process, many members had responded swiftly. The Institution also received queries from a few on the necessity and with due explanations it was settled. However, there are still some who had not responded. A follow-up email or registered mail was sent with the hope to get in touch with these corresponding members. At the last counts, attention to emails and phone calls were over 500 occurrences in the last three weeks.
In addition, some individual members said they only represent themselves, and have not appointed any representatives, thus the Institution could not confirm whether the statement claimed by some that they represented 116 or 120 members was correct. The Institution is still awaiting responses from some members to continue the authentication. Furthermore, the Institution is unable to disclose the figures of members whose identity have been authenticated, considering the matter being relevant to members’ personal data and may affect the impartiality in the handling of the requests.
The Institution had also carefully studied the submitted documents, and noticed that certain proposed agenda items are not appropriate nor actionable for decision at a SGM. Since SGM could not be convened without an appropriate agenda, requests for clarification on the agenda items were sent mid of March to the requesting members and legal guidance had been sought regarding the arrangement. The Institution cannot and should not make any suggestions in formulating the agenda but had promised to provide clerical assistance if requested by the members.
The HKIE welcomes views from members, and strictly follows the established procedures which have been effective in handling various requests. In particular one of the concerns was the procedures taken by the Institution was doubtful. Ir Peter Y Wong, Past President of the HKIE, when attending in person the aforementioned press conference, had explained the procedures of handling the requisitions and the SGM, reflecting that the Institution attaches high importance in handling members’ requests.
The Council was aware of the underlying principle by Ir Wong in accepting the appointment to handle the matter was that he was to ensure all concerns are addressed and all members taking the effort sending in submissions were to be included. The Council was also informed that upon confirmation of at least 60 Corporate Members having proposed a common and actionable SGM agenda, the Council would have to, within 21 days, consider as to whether convening SGM on behalf of the Requisitionists in accordance with the Constitution. Such arrangement was also supported by the legal advisor.
Should there be any further updates on the convening of the SGM, members of the HKIE will be notified in accordance with the Constitution.
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Tel: 2895 4446
Fax: 2882 6825