$300b annual construction spending seen

Wallis Wang

Hong Kong will spend HK$300 billion on construction projects a year in the coming years, a golden opportunity for the industry to adopt sustainable development, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said.

Speaking at the CIC Global Construction Sustainability Forum and Exhibition at Ritz-Carlton yesterday, Linn said Hong Kong is facing various problems including an aging population, low productivity, high construction costs and safety risks.

The city must adopt new construction methods with high productivity, she said, adding the government will seek broader cooperation within the Greater Bay Area to utilize its collective experience and resources.

Maintaining sustainable development is one of the basic national policies and the SAR must play a key role in China's vision to build a beautiful country by 2035, a goal of President Xi Jinping, Linn said.

She added the SAR is supported by the country while having the advantage of connecting to the world. She is confident that the local construction industry can carry out sustainable development.

"The overall annual construction expenditure, including both public and private sectors, will rise to HK$300 billion annually in the coming years. Together they present a golden opportunity for the construction industry to embrace sustainable construction practices," Linn said.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said during the forum that authorities have found enough land to build 410,000 public housing units.

Various housing projects will be made in the future and construction safety is as important as efficacy, Ho said, adding contractors must combine innovation, sustainability and safety when building the units.

She said new building methods will boost the sector's development in terms of innovation and safety, including the modular integrated construction approach in which free-standing modules are manufactured in a factory before being transported to the site for installation.

Ho also said she is pleased to see more youngsters enter the construction industry, as they can introduce innovations such as robotics and new materials.

Authorities have encouraged the industry to reach out to bankers interested in green investing, discussing new technologies and more environmentally friendly construction methods, she said.

Construction Industry Council chairman Thomas Ho On-sing said the sector could enhance construction safety using various measures, such as introducing new technologies, improving safety management, and clarifying roles and responsibilities on site.

As a sector using the most energy with the highest carbon emissions, the construction industry should use innovative technologies and construction methods to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, he said.

The three-day forum, co-organized by the CIC and the Development Bureau, also features an exhibition of sustainable and innovative construction methods at Sky100 in Tsim Sha Tsui.

"As the first of its kind in Hong Kong, [the forum] serves as a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing, for the display of cutting-edge technologies, and ignite discussions and imaginations that contribute to sustainable construction in Hong Kong," Ho said.

"Our sustainable mission is a collective task that requires everyone's contribution, partners and cooperation are what we cherish the most."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com