Engineering

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said in the 2013-14 budget, unveiled in February, that to foster economic development, the government will continue to plan and develop infrastructure projects. The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) welcomed the government's decision, saying it is more than happy to offer its professional knowledge to help the government implement its policies.

The HKIE also said, however, that the government should set a timetable on future infrastructure projects to ensure they are developed on schedule. It said it can guarantee job prospects in the industry and make sure there is enough manpower for future developments.

The HKIE also called for special attention for engineering's long-term development, saying the government should allocate resources to develop engineering education in schools and boost training resources for university students.

It said the government should strive to help Hong Kong engineers with mainland professional construction qualifications to be able to directly register and practise on the mainland.

The secretary for labour and welfare, Matthew Cheung, said youngsters should seek opportunities in construction, noting that the industry is one of three in Hong Kong with particularly high demand for manpower.