The Development Bureau (DEVB) and works departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Monday bagged nine Martin Barnes Awards, including two prestigious winner awards.

The SAR won nine awards from the 27 awards in eight categories among 80 entries worldwide at the ceremony held in London that recognized construction projects, organizations and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in project delivery through collaborative partnership, according to a government press release.

The two prestigious winner awards went to the Water Supplies Department for the implementation of Shek Wu Hui Water Reclamation Plant and Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) Tony Ho Ying-kit for promoting the New Engineering Contract (NEC) in construction projects over the years.

"The DEVB and works departments have been committed to promoting collaborative partnerships in the delivery of public works projects through the adoption of the NEC form, enhancing mutual trust and cooperation among different industry stakeholders,” said Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said, congratulating the project teams.

“Such collaborative partnerships help accomplish the primary goals of project management and enhance management efficiency and cost-effectiveness of projects. The awards fully demonstrate that their efforts and accomplishments have been recognized internationally.”

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Apart from the two winner awards, the DEVB, the Civil Engineering and Development, the Drainage Services, the Electrical and Mechanical Services and the Highways departments also received accolades for several notable NEC entries.

Also on Monday, the NEC Users' Group held its 2025 Annual Conference.

At the plenary session, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services Poon Kwok-ying, exchanged views with a group of international experts on how to lead the industry in applying innovative technologies and incorporating the use of NEC forms to enhance the effectiveness of infrastructure projects.

Introduced by the DEVB in 2009, the NEC form has become a key driver in transforming Hong Kong's public works industry.

The NEC promotes a collaborative partnership between clients and contractors to enhance project performance.

Compared with conventional contracts, the NEC introduces a comprehensive project management system into its contractual provisions, including an early warning mechanism, a compensation mechanism between contractual parties and action plans.

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Over 760 public works projects, with a total contract value of over HK$510 billion, have so far adopted the NEC form.