(7 April 2025, Hong Kong) – The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Grand 50th Annual Dinner was held on 3 April, during which a series of awards were presented to distinguished members, an Exemplary Project, and Legacy Award projects. The HKIE was greatly honoured to have invited The Honourable John K C Lee, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as the Principal Guest. Also attending were Mr Wu Xiuzhang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Ye Shuiqiu, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Bao Haibin, Counsellor of The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR; and many senior officials of the HKSAR Government, together with over 1,800 leaders and representatives of Hong Kong, mainland, and overseas professional bodies, as well as industry elites, to celebrate the HKIE’s 50th Anniversary.
HKIE President Ir Eric Ma (7th right), Principal Guest the Honourable John Lee
Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the HKSAR (middle), Vice Minister of the Ministry of
Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC Mr Wu Xiuzhang (6th right), and
other guests in the Stage Party officiating the toasting ceremony on the stage
At the Dinner, Ir Eric Ma, President of the HKIE, officiated the presentation of the five HKIE awards. The Honorary Fellow title was conferred upon Ir Dr Andrew K C Chan and Ir Prof Alexander P K Wai. The HKIE Gold Medal was awarded to Ir Stephen W K Chik. President’s Award was presented to Ir Duncan W O Wong. Young Engineer of the Year Award went to Ir Dr Zheng Pai. During the evening, the HKIE also unveiled the 19 Grand Awards and 3 Legacy Awards of the HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award. Besides, the “Dongjiang–Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme” received a special recognition as an “Exemplary Project”, marking a meaningful tribute to the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong.
Chief Executive Mr John Lee congratulated the HKIE on its 50th Anniversary and commended the engineering sector’s important contributions: “Hong Kong’s engineering sector is making remarkable breakthroughs in innovation and applied technologies: from Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) to digital twin and beyond.” He noted that the Government values the HKIE’s role in advancing MiC adoption and welcomes the recent milestone where over 200 HKIE members became the first in Hong Kong to gain professional titles in the GBA under a pilot scheme. “These developments will further unlock regional opportunities and strengthen Hong Kong’s integration into national development,” Mr Lee said.
Chief Executive The Honourable John K C Lee, GBM, SBS, PDSM, PMSM,
the Principal Guest, addressing the gathering
Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Mr Wu Xiuzhang, affirmed the HKIE’s readiness to align Hong Kong’s engineering and construction sector with the nation’s overall development, and to advocate the establishment of the GBA Federation of Engineering Organisations (GFEO). He also appreciated the HKIE’s active promotion of mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the Mainland, which has made significant contributions to building a high-calibre talent hub in the GBA. He remarked: “Over the past 50 years, the HKIE has forged ahead with determination and achieved remarkable success, contributing ‘Hong Kong’s wisdom, China’s approach’ to global engineering standards, while also bearing witness to and participating in Hong Kong’s historical transformations.”
Mr Wu Xiuzhang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and
Social Security, delivering his speech
President Ir Eric Ma remarked: “The founding engineers who established the Institution 50 years ago taught us that the only way to build the future is to dream today. To our predecessors, thank you: not only for your remarkable contributions, but also for allowing us to carry your legacy forward.”
HKIE President Ir Eric Ma delivering his speech
The Recognition “Exemplary Project”
Hong Kong has long been home to numerous landmark engineering projects. At the Dinner, the “Dongjiang–Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme” was conferred the “Exemplary Project” recognition. Dongjiang water has supported both Hong Kong’s economic activities and daily life; this recognition carries added significance in the year marking the 60th anniversary of water supply from the Mainland to Hong Kong.
粵海水務黨委書記、董事長鄭航桅先生 (2nd right), who represented the Department of
Water Resources of Guangdong Province, and Director of Water Supplies
Ir Roger Y L Wong (2nd left), accepting the recognition“Exemplary Project”
conferred on the“Dongjiang–Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme”from
President Ir Eric Ma (1st right) and Senior Vice President Ir Alice Chow (1st left)
The HKIE Awards
Four of the Institution’s most prestigious annual awards were also presented during the Dinner: the HKIE Honorary Fellow, the HKIE Gold Medal, President’s Award, and Young Engineer of the Year Award.
Every year, individual distinguished members would be potentially elected by the HKIE in recognition of their contributions to the HKIE, the profession, or their achievements in science and engineering. This year’s elected members are Past President Ir Dr Andrew K C Chan and President of Hong Kong Baptist University Ir Prof Alexander P K Wai.
The HKIE Gold Medal is presented to an outstanding member for related professional accomplishments and contributions. This year’s recipient is Ir Stephen W K Chik, who possesses 40 years of experience in railway and property infrastructure.
President’s Award was established to honour members who have made exceptional contributions to the HKIE. This year’s elected member is Ir Duncan W O Wong, who has held various roles in the HKIE and international engineering organisations.
Young Engineer of the Year Award is organised every year by the HKIE to recognise the achievements and services of young engineers in the engineering profession, in social affairs, and within the HKIE. This year’s Awardee is Ir Dr Zheng Pai, and the recipients of the Certificates of Merit are Ir Calvin K F Leung and Ir Stephanie Y T Leung.
The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award
The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award aims to honour outstanding engineering projects, breakthrough technologies, and transformative initiatives over the past 50 years. These numerous engineering accomplishments, spanning from the 1970s through to the 2010s and beyond, have had a profound and lasting impact on Hong Kong and the global engineering fields, professions, and societies. The Award was divided into three categories: Industrial, Innovation, and Infrastructure. From over 100 nominations, 19 outstanding projects were rigorously shortlisted by a professional panel, with the final three projects selected by public vote as being the most impactful.
Recipients of “The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award” (the highest honour):
- Industrial: Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station: A Key Player in Hong Kong’s Zero-Carbon Power Generating Industry
- Infrastructure: A New Era on Mobility – Hong Kong’s First Metro Subway
- Innovation: Fibre Optic – Revolutionary Change in Modern Telecommunications by Professor Charles K. Kao
Recipients of “The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award – Grand Award”:
Industrial
- Keeping Hong Kong Talking – The Transformation of Telephone Services in Hong Kong in the 1970s (1970s)
- Unshaken Over Time – Tai Po Gas Production Plant (1980s)
- Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station: A Key Player in Hong Kong’s Zero-Carbon Power Generating Industry* (1990s)
- HSBC Data Centre (2000s)
- HKT – Building Fibre Network Infrastructure to Support Internet Boom and Digital Transformation in Hong Kong (2010s to present)
Infrastructure
- Cross-Harbour Tunnel (1970s)
- A New Era on Mobility – Hong Kong’s First Metro Subway* (1980s)
- Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport (1990s)
- Tsing Ma Bridge – The World’s Longest Suspension Bridge for Road and Railway Traffic (1990s)
- West Rail (2000s)
- Stonecutters Bridge – State-of-the-art Cable-stayed Bridge in the World (2000s)
- The Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (HSR) – A Connection to Fostering Community and Economic Ties between Hong Kong and Mainland Cities (2010s to present)
- Kai Tak Sports Park (2010s to present)
Innovation
- Hong Kong Slope Safety System (1970s)
- Plover Cove & High Island Reservoirs – The Unsalted Sea (1970s)
- Fibre Optic – Revolutionary Change in Modern Telecommunications by Professor Charles K. Kao* (1980s)
- Octopus – The World’s First Contactless Payment Card (1990s)
- Fire Engineering Approach for Large Spaces (2000s)
- The Invention of a Real-time Sewage Surveillance-based Forecast Model to Assist COVID-19 Pandemic Control (2010s to present)
*Also received “The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award”
The engineering profession is indispensable to social progress. As we fortuitously celebrate the 50th Anniversary and golden jubilee of the HKIE, we hope not only to pay tribute to past projects but also to call upon all engineers to carry the torch forward: to be mindful of and build upon the wisdom and contributions of those who came before, to integrate professional knowledge with innovative technologies, and to continue contributing to Hong Kong’s development.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Corporate Communications Section
Tel: 2895 4446
Fax: 2882 6825
Email:corpcom@hkie.org.hk
Appendices:
- Photos of the presentations of various awards
- Biographies of the recipients of the HKIE Awards
- The HKIE Honorary Fellow 2025: Ir Dr Andrew K C Chan
- The HKIE Honorary Fellow 2025: Ir Prof Alexander P K Wai
- The HKIE Gold Medal 2025: Ir Stephen W K Chik
- President’s Award 2025: Ir Duncan W O Wong
- Young Engineer of the Year Award 2025: Ir Dr Zheng Pai
- “The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award” awarded project introductions
- List of “The HKIE 50th Anniversary Legacy Award – Merit” awarded projects