Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks at the Celebration for the 15th Anniversary of the Construction Industry Council and the Hong Kong Construction Exhibition Grand Opening Ceremony in Hong Kong, Oct 31, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

HONG KONG – The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will press on with formulating measures to uplift the productivity of the city’s construction industry, the chief executive said on Monday. 

“We will drive the development of high productivity construction methods, such as Modular Integrated Construction or MiC, across the industry. We will continue to lead the region in the adoption of MiC in the construction industry,” said John Lee Ka-chiu while delivering a speech at the Celebration for the 15th Anniversary of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Construction Exhibition Grand Opening Ceremony.

Referring to his maiden Policy Address which focuses on attracting talent and nurturing local talent to ensure sufficient manpower supply to support growth, he said the efforts of the CIC and industry partners in attracting new blood, enhancing training, and building career paths for construction practitioners have full support from the SAR government.

READ MORE: CE focuses on talent, housing, reform in maiden address

With the support from our country, our practitioners applied ground-breaking construction technologies to build the much-needed community isolation and treatment facilities from scratch, within a matter of weeks.

John Lee, Chief Executive, HKSAR

Citing some iconic landmarks and infrastructures of Hong Kong including the M+ museum, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shatin to Central Link, he Hong Kong leader particularly thanked those who had worked days and nights when the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic hit the city.

“With the support from our country, our practitioners applied ground-breaking construction technologies to build the much-needed community isolation and treatment facilities from scratch, within a matter of weeks,” he said.

“You have made contribution to the realization of “China speed’.”

Saying that the Northern Metropolis is set to become a mega growth engine for driving Hong Kong’s social and economic advancement, Lee said the government is determined to develop it into a vibrant metropolitan area built on greater innovation and technology co-operation, between Hong Kong and other cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“I will personally lead the Northern Metropolis Steering Committee to provide high-level policy steer and supervision.”

Another strategic growth engine of Hong Kong is the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, which will be a major source of future land supply, supporting the establishment of our third core business district and enhancing our connectivity, the CE said. “Coupled with the ‘double gateway’ function of the Lantau Island, we are well-positioned to tap the economic opportunities from overseas and the Greater Bay Area.” 

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Together with the three major road schemes and three strategic railway projects announced in the Policy Address, these infrastructural investments will further drive and support our city's development, he said.

This Oct 31, 2022 photo shows (from left) the Executive Director of the CIC, Albert Cheng; Secretary for Housing, Winnie Ho; Chairman of Construction Industry Council, Thomas Ho; Chief Executive John Lee; Secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn; and Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Ricky Lau, at the kick-off ceremony of the Celebration for the 15th Anniversary of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Construction Exhibition Grand Opening Ceremony in Hong Kong, Oct 31, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

Chief Executive John Lee (second left) visits the exhibition during the Hong Kong Construction Exhibition Grand Opening Ceremony, Oct 31, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

“With these developmental plans in the pipeline and the strong impetus for growth in the mainland, Hong Kong is destined to rise further as a city of boundless opportunities.” 

In the next few years, the government's annual capital works expenditure is anticipated to exceed HK$100 billion. Hong Kong's annual construction volume is expected to grow to HK$300 billion in future.