ed from one committee of architects to one of engineers and so on.
If we decide that this is an ap- proach which could help us to estab- lish an identifiable physical centre for our activities with at least shared secretarial, library and meeting room facilities, let us lead a movement to- wards it.
Once such means of collaboration were established much more could be done. We have rarely in the past ex- cept at our annual dinner, tried to talk, out of office hours to our other colleagues in the building team or closely allied professions let alone the more esoteric members of planning and physical development organisa- tions whose team membership is noted but not necessarily understood by all of our members.
This may sound a pathetic situa- tion. It is however true. It stems in part out of the system from which we have evolved. We are an allied society of the Royal Institute and as long as Hong Kong remains and is liable to remain in the British sphere of in- fluence we may feel we wish to remain an "Allied Society" of that institute. The conditions of Hong Kong force people to be interested in the preser- vation of these outside links and mem- berships. By them the 'standards' we have, have been signified, and they mean ease of movement should a crisis arise; but we do need to take cog. nisance of the way the other institutes represented have at this conference, (in particular Singapore whose phy- sical characteristics make for com- parisons), are acting at this juncture to help themselves achieve all the levels of professional competence required in their society, not that of Britain or America or Australia.
A new relationship is needed, and although we are not typical of Asia on a whole, we share her problems and the new links which have been forged over the last three years within the regional conference of CAA is a symbol perhaps of a more real identity than that held up to now.
The Relationsip of the National Institute with CAA and the CAA Re- gional Conference
It cannot, perhaps, be stressed suf- ficiently that in our relationships with society in Hong Kong or with the ex- ternal organisations implied by mem- bership of CAA and the regional or- ganisation the first need is a strong Hong Kong institute. Without that it
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would seem any other relationships are impossible. When we have a strong national body then we can think seriously of membership and contri- buting to and from an international and despite the somewhat un- ending gloom of the attitudes express- ed here over Hong Kong, it does seem that we could be a source of aid in the field of building technology, survey. ing, engineering etc. to some of our less fortunate neighbours.
The relationship with CAA revolves first perhaps round educational pro- blems, the new CBAE and comparative levels of educational attainment, a sub- ject to be, we hope, focussed in the not distant future as far as the region is concerned in Arcasia --- where it will be possibly coupled with the system- atic analysis of research activity, documentation and a general co- ordinating function of the regions pro- fessional interests.
It also can play very important function as far as Hong Kong is con- cerned in achieving reciprocity of pro- fessional working requirements enab- ling people to move easily throughout groups of countries and offer their professional services.
The fact that CAA as a suprana- tional body could well discuss with governments problems which indivi- dual member institutes cannot effec- tively raise, and representing a large number of professionals with accepted and even published codes can rise above the sometimes petty jealousies inherent in a small place like Hong Kong, is of great importance. Again CAA can assist, through a project like Arcasia, with the provision of services which the RIBA is providing for its own membership so very effectively, and can help further strengthen, there- fore, the standing and effectiveness of the individual in his own community.
Summary
Whilst under the social conditions in which the architectural profession works, a great deal has been achieved in Hong Kong. There is room for a very great increase in the effectiveness of professional advice to society as a whole and clients in particular.
It is possible that by a re-examina- tion of the standard of entry and competence combined with enforced codes of ethics a more elite corps of architectural practicians could be formulated.
This combined with the establish- ment of a multi-professional institute, with chapters for different professions, could be a starting point for effective
full time secretarial and general man- agement of institute affairs in a way quite impossible with the present voluntary labour.
Obviously voluntary help will al- ways be a necessary and vital element in our activities but full time profes- sional, co-ordinating officers are an essential before the necessary services can be provided for all members. An institute needs to be seen to give ser- vice before an enthusiastic member- ship can become truly interested in it. The key seems to be the co-ordination of effort, the efforts of other related professions as well as our own, but also the efforts of the university in its department of architecture and its readily available department of extra mural activities.
At the moment efforts and energies are scattered. Essential to a healthy active institute must also be a vocifer- ous and participating student body from which future membership can be drawn.
If we can establish a viable national body of some sort then, and only then can we think seriously of the inter- national one. But having said that national matters come first, since their meaning in international terms will always be in the background, it is as well now to help build an international body so that a framework exists on which international relationships can be developed. And in this can also be found the reciprocal arrangements whereby that international body can help the individual institute and even the individual architect.
To this end it behoves us to sup- port CAA. It has faults and it is easy to be critical of its political base, which may well need eventually to be widened; but such faults are history. It is a viable organisation. It has inter- national standing and it is capable of being moulded to something very workable and very worthwhile. Some- thing each national institute needs in the inevitable inter-national dealings, and something which the regional organisations need in relating their activities to the true international scene. Arcasia must be seen in terms of being a part of CAA as a whole and not a separate body.
And in all this let us remember that the aim of all our activities is in the end the achievement of that better en- vironment, that better service to the society in which we live and work.
* The author would like to thank Mr. Michael Munday for several suggestions in- corporated in this paper. The manuscript is however entirely the author's responsibility.
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Far East BUILDER, January 1970
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