Spread Positive Energy and Embrace a Safe Year

As we step into the new year, my New Year's wish is for the safety and happiness of everyone in the construction industry. I also want us all to enjoy the opportunities and achievements of our thriving industry. Putting words into action, the CIC has designated 2024 as the "Year of Construction Safety" in the hope of fostering an enduring culture of safety.

2024 as the 'Year of Construction Safety'

For many years, the CIC has been committed to “Zero Accidents on Construction Sites”. This year, the CIC has designated 2024 as the “Year of Construction Safety”. Various safety training and campaigns will be organised to improve safety awareness and skills among practitioners. New technologies will be promoted to reduce safety risks. The CIC aims to foster a safety-oriented work culture among project managers and remind front-line workers to 'Say No to Danger'. In addition, the CIC aims to communicate the industry's commitment to safety to the public, create a positive image of the construction sector, and attract new talent to join the industry.

Masterclass on AI's LLM Model to be Offered This Year

This year, the CIC will continue to organise masterclasses on safety and advanced technology. The Digital Twin Masterclass will be launched in Q1, while the High -Quality Construction Masterclass is expected to return this year to address the industry's training needs in the use of advanced technology. I am pleased to announce that, building upon the success of last year's "Artificial Intelligence Masterclass", the CIC plans to introduce the "Large Language Model (LLM) Masterclass" in Q3. This masterclasses aim to accelerate the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in the construction industry, providing industry professionals with the opportunity to learn from top experts and harness the full potential of AI.

The Large Language Model (LLM) is a widely used technique in AI. By training on huge amounts of language data, deep learning models are developed with powerful language understanding and generation capabilities. They can be applied to tasks such as text generation, translation and speech recognition, with chatbots being a common example. Applying LLM in projects can help practitioners with risk prediction and decision making, estimating site risks and predicting accidents, ensuring worker safety and improving quality monitoring. The trend of adopting digitalisation and automation in construction safety is unstoppable.  This year's masterclass is an occasion not to be missed!

I have visited one of the Housing Authority’s pilot projects using the modular integrated construction recently - Public Housing Development Project at Anderson Road Quarry Sites. I personally witnessed the power of modular integrated construction combined with robots, AI and other tools to greatly improve project efficiency and site safety. The application of innovation and technology is indeed the trend of the construction industry. All construction practitioners must seize the opportunity and participate in the master classes held by the CIC to grasp the latest developments in the industry.

Review of the CIC's Work in 2023

Looking back in 2023, the CIC has achieved significant milestones and organised numerous meaningful events. Due to the limited space available, I have selected the following highlights:

Promoting Exchange with the Mainland and Integration with the Greater Bay Area:

• Opening of the Representative Office of CIC (HK) in Guangdong : the CIC's Representative Office was officially opened in Guangzhou in the middle of last year. It plays a crucial role in optimising the supply chain for “Modular Integrated Construction”, promoting collaboration in workforce training between the mainland and Hong Kong construction industries, and leveraging opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis.
• Visits to Various Mainland Cities: I and CIC colleagues made a number of visits to various cities in the Greater Bay Area, including Shenzhen and Foshan. We also visited mainland cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Changsha. I saw the potential for cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland after having exchanges with leading construction companies, visits to world-class smart manufacturing factories and tours of top universities and outstanding high-tech enterprises. We shared Hong Kong's advantages with our mainland counterparts and proposed that we complement each other's strengths and join hands to expand into international markets.

Revolutionising Construction Site Safety Culture:

• Launch of the "Life First: Walk the Talk" webinar series: regular monthly webinars were organised for providing updates on the latest safety operating procedures.
• Worked with the Development Bureau on a number of activities to promote safety information, including “Construction Safety Week”, the “Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme” and the “Zero Accident Ambassador Award”.
• Organised the "CEO Safety Forum 2023" to address the safety roles and responsibilities of senior management.
• Published "The Construction Site Facilities for Workers Reference Material' to provide reference standards for creating a suitable working environment on construction sites.
  
  

Nurturing Talent and Enhancing Professionalism:

• The Hong Kong Construction Industry Promotion Campaign was themed "Design for Future, Build for Life". It proactively promoted the construction industry to young people and the general public. A variety of promotions were conducted to project a refreshing image to the public, including TV commercials, infotainment programmes, reality shows, outdoor advertisements, and street promotions. Moreover, the campaign organised 12 "Master Talks" seminars specifically for secondary school students. Visits to various landmarks and major infrastructure sites were organised to give our younger generation an in-depth understanding of the work of the construction teams behind various projects, the latest construction methods and innovative technologies. All these efforts were aimed at nurturing our next generation of successors.
• “Construction Industry Outstanding Young Person Award 2023 Presentation Ceremony and Young Construction Forum”: Recognising young architects who have excelled in their profession and made outstanding contributions to society and the industry.  The Forum served as a platform for in-depth exchanges between young professionals and industry leaders.
• “Construction Industry Youth Greater Bay Area Exchange Program” organised by the CIC Youth Affairs Committee: guided by young leaders of the industry, approximately 60 students visited construction and technology companies in the Greater Bay Area, as well as educational and cultural institutions.
• The CIC-ZCP STEAM Lab,located in the Zero Carbon Park, was opened in June. As Hong Kong's first STEAM experiential exhibition centre with a focus on the construction industry, it provides an interactive educational platform for students, showcasing innovative building technologies and industry knowledge, and inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in construction.

Innovative Construction Technology:

• The "China Con-Tech Development and the Future of Hong Kong Construction Industry" Forum invited several leading figures from Mainland China and Hong Kong, including four academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to explain China's advanced construction technology.
• The "Smart Facilities Management Control Centre" was opened, providing the industry with a clear path towards digitalisation and low-carbon practices from construction stage to property management stage.
• The "CIC Digital Twin Hub" was launched, promoting the integration of digital twin technology and construction.
• Organised the first-ever "Construction Robotics Workshop" in Hong Kong, showcasing over twenty commercially available construction robots to accelerate the adoption of robotics in the industry.

Sustainable Development:

• Collaborated with the Development Bureau to organise the "The Global Construction Sustainability Forum and Exhibition 2023", creating a platform for the industry to exchange ideas on green building and sustainable development with over 40 international experts.
• Released the "Sustainable Construction Charter" to guide the industry in developing carbon reduction plans, with over 160 organisations signing up.
• Introduced the "Construction Industry Council Smart Waste Management Tool" - a digital platform providing integrated waste management services to streamline the construction waste management process.

To Help the Industry to Deal With the Challenges of Labour Shortages:

• Operated the "Designated Quarter for the Construction Industry Imported Labour '' in Yuen Long Tam Mei, providing residential facilities for imported workers and coordinating arrangements for their meals and transportation, etc.
  
  

I sincerely appreciate the industry's support for the CIC's work over the past year, and the CIC will continue to communicate with the industry and act as a bridge between the  industry and the Government.

This year's CIC Charity Calendar is themed "Construction Innovation", showcasing Hong Kong's vision of becoming a sustainable and smart city, and reflecting our confidence and hope for Hong Kong's future. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar, after deducting expenses, will be used to support the "Construction Industry Lo Pan Rice Campaign", which distributes hot meals to underprivileged communities and spreads positive energy throughout the community. Every day counts. By carefully planning our schedules, we get closer to achieving our goals. This calendar is filled with faith, hope and love. I highly recommend it as a companion in your daily life.