We provide Construction Workers Registration service, and introduce Registered Specialist Trade Contractors Scheme as well as the Technically Competent Persons Registration Scheme to the construction industry.
We provide Construction Workers Registration service, and introduce Registered Specialist Trade Contractors Scheme as well as the Technically Competent Persons Registration Scheme to the construction industry.
The construction industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, green construction, and digital tools seamlessly integrating into every operational process. However, no matter how many new technologies we adopt, safety remains the bedrock of all development. Only with a solid foundation of safety can we confidently enhance our construction skills, advance smart construction, and build a green, sustainable future.
Safety First: The Cornerstone of Industry Development
Last week, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) co-organised Construction Safety Week 2026. The programme featured the Kick-off Ceremony and Conference, site visits, and the Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony. Themed "Build Smart. Care with Heart. Own the Task.", the programme aims to enhance construction safety culture through promoting adoption of Smart Site Safety System (4S), caring culture and encouraging everyone to fulfil their safety roles and responsibilities. These efforts seek to continuously improve site safety and embed safety concepts into daily working habits.
The Kick-off Ceremony and Conference received an overwhelming response. The morning session targeted management personnel from government departments, clients, consultants, contractors, and subcontractors, while the afternoon session engaged frontline staff such as safety officers and site supervisors. Through these multi-level exchanges, the CIC hopes to unite industry stakeholders, elevating collective safety awareness and a culture of safety leadership.
During the Kick-off Ceremony, Ms. Bernadette LINN, Secretary for Development, highlighted a significant milestone: approximately 80% of construction sites across Hong Kong are now equipped with the 4S, contributing to a 20% reduction in the industry's overall accident rate between 2023 and 2025. She underscored the Government's definitive goal to establish 4S as the standard baseline for all local sites. To this end, the DEVB updated its technical circular just last month to introduce three new categories of 4S devices for public works, while also leveraging the Qianhai pilot project to systematically extend 4S adoption across the Greater Bay Area. Crucially, she urged the industry to cultivate a "People-oriented" culture of care, embodying the ethos that "Construction Site Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility."
Echoing this imperative in my opening remarks, I stressed that safety remains the foundation of our industry. I issued a clear call to action for industry leaders and senior executives to lead by example—stepping out of the boardroom and onto the front lines to engage directly with our workers, thereby demonstrating an unequivocal commitment to their well-being. Furthermore, when invited to participate in the Government's consultation session on the 15th Five-Year Plan last month, I pointed out that the industry has already seen positive results in smart site implementation and safety training. The next step is to leverage data analytics, AI, and video analytics to establish a more comprehensive and forward-looking safety management model, shifting our paradigm from incident response to incident prevention.
Meanwhile, the CIC has integrated the "CIC AI Assistant (Construction Safety)" into the CIC App, providing instant response to safety enquiries and risk identification functions. AI is our safety partner, making risk management more proactive and holistic. I urge the industry to make good use of this tool, reminding everyone to "Stop and Think" before executing any procedure, as we work hand in hand towards the ultimate goal of "Zero Accident".
Showcasing Hong Kong's Craftsmanship on the Global Stage
With a solid foundation in safety, we can then focus on skills. Dubbed the "Skills Olympics", the 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai on 22 – 27 September 2026. Supported by the CIC, nine competitors will represent Hong Kong in eight construction-related trades—including Bricklaying, Cabinetmaking, Concrete Construction Work, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plumbing and Heating, Wall and Floor Tiling, and Welding—competing against the world's top young artisans.
World-class skills are never just about speed and technique. The true contest is a comprehensive test of safety, quality, professional attitude, and craftsmanship. Every competitor must construct according to the drawings within a strict 18 or 22-hour time limit, perfecting every detail with deviations measured in mere millimetres. This relentless pursuit of excellence is precisely the core value we continuously promote within the industry.
Each of our home-grown competitors has undergone rigorous selection and prolonged professional training. I call upon our industry peers to cheer them on and support them as they demonstrate the prowess of Hong Kong's construction industry on the international stage. Every step they take represents the hope of skills inheritance and reminds us that nurturing young talent and passing down exquisite craftsmanship are fundamental to the sustainable development of our industry.
Fostering Human-Machine Collaboration through the Robotics Competition
With world-class craftsmanship secured, our next imperative is to forge a seamless synergy between the artisan and technology. The application of construction robotics is a vital driving force for advancing smart construction, boosting productivity, and improving site safety. Under the guidance of the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province and the DEVB, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Intelligent Construction Industry Development Alliance and the CIC are jointly organising the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Construction Robotics Competition 2026. The Hong Kong Stage will take place on the 29th of this month, featuring live robotics competitions in the morning and an interactive technology exhibition in the afternoon, attracting over 30 robotics enterprises from the Greater Bay Area. I cordially invite industry stakeholders, practitioners, the education and I&T sectors, as well as the public who are interested in construction robotics, to join us.
This year's competition covers eight robotics categories. The focus is not merely on showcasing advanced smart construction technologies, but on verifying the practical effectiveness of deploying robots in real-world site environments to genuinely alleviate workers' burdens, enhance productivity, and improve site safety. Through this competition, we hope to inspire the industry to consider how to widely adopt technology and drive industry upgrading and transformation. By freeing workers from repetitive and high-risk tasks, they can focus on higher-value professional judgements.
From the WorldSkills Competition to the Robotics Competition, we are witnessing skills and smart technologies advancing in tandem, realising the leap from human skills to human-machine collaboration.
Spearheading Low-Carbon Transition with Green Building Week
The mission of the construction industry has never been limited to building structures and infrastructure. Beyond pursuing safety, efficiency, and technological innovation, we also shoulder the crucial role of reducing carbon emissions, improving the built environment, and propelling Hong Kong towards carbon neutrality.
Co-organised by the CIC and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), the Hong Kong Green Building Week 2026 will hold its kick-off ceremony on the 18th of this month. Under the theme "LOOK! Green Building Trace: Everyone Engaged, Race to Carbon Neutrality", this year's campaign brings green building concepts into the community through a diverse array of activities, including green building career experiences, interactive games, expert seminars, and in-depth guided tours.
From the low-carbon journey aboard the "LOOK HARBOUR! Green Transport X Building Tour" electric water taxi, to the "Green Buildings Along Harbourfront Snapshot Challenge", and the “LOOK CLOSER! Green Building Fair” interactive exhibition, every activity aims to help the public understand the four major energies of green buildings: Health and Well-being, Resource Efficiency, Environmental Friendliness, and Innovative Elements. I hope industry peers and the wider public will actively participate, making green building not just professional jargon, but a common language for everyone as we race towards a carbon-neutral future together.
Aligning with the 15th Five-Year Plan: Co-building the Northern Metropolis Innovation Hub
The CIC strongly supports Hong Kong's proactive integration into national planning and firmly believes that the Northern Metropolis is the most critical engine for Hong Kong's future development. With the national 15th Five-Year Plan including the "acceleration of the Northern Metropolis construction" for the first time, we hope the Government will seize this opportunity to develop the Northern Metropolis into a world-class demonstration platform for innovative construction. By more widely adopting smart construction, construction industrialisation, green building, and digitalisation measures during the planning process, we can establish more successful use cases, create new industry chains, and nurture a larger pool of professionals equipped with relevant technologies and vision for the industry's long-term development.
For construction professionals interested in the blueprint of the Northern Metropolis, you are welcome to join the "CIC See What I See" webinar on 14 September. Ir Michael FONG Hok-shing, Director of Civil Engineering and Development, will share on the unique opportunities presented by the Northern Metropolis and development strategies. This is an event not to be missed.
Looking Ahead: Construction Innovation Expo 2026
Another major industry event is also gearing up. The Construction Innovation Expo 2026 (CIExpo 2026) will be held from 23 - 25 November 2026. As the CIC's flagship event, this year's Expo will feature over 180 booths, bringing together cutting-edge construction technologies and innovative solutions from around the globe.
The three-day exhibition will run concurrently with a three-day international conference, covering vital areas such as Smart Construction, Green & Sustainable Construction, Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP), safety culture, and the Smart Site Safety System. A business matching zone and main stage sharing sessions will be set up to provide an interactive platform for exchange and collaboration within the industry.
Registration for the Expo is now open. I warmly invite industry peers to actively participate, explore the future trends of the construction industry together, and translate innovation into continuous momentum for industry advancement!
From upholding the value of life at Construction Safety Week to passing on craftsmanship at the WorldSkills Competition; from exploring human-machine collaboration at the Robotics Competition to committing to a low-carbon future at Green Building Week—we have witnessed the industry’s unwavering dedication across four key pillars of safety, skills, technology, and sustainable development. Looking ahead, the CIC will continue to work hand in hand with the Government and the industry to integrate safety culture, craftsmanship, technological innovation, and green construction, building a safer, smarter, and more resilient construction industry for Hong Kong.
