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IFAWPCA THE ROLE OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS
Hong Kong
As
Federation has Aided Colony's Rapid Growth
s host association for this, the Sixth Convention of the Inter- national Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors' Assoca- tions, the Building Contractors' As- sociation of Hong Kong extends a sincere welcome to all delegates and observers.
Hong Kong has built up a reputa- tion as being a tourist and shopping paradise, which we are sure Our visitors will enjoy. However to think of Hong Kong merely in these terms would be quite wrong.
A fact not generally recognised is that in the years before the Second World War, Hong Kong was rated as one of the ten largest ports in the world, based on annual tonnage of shipping in and out of the port. And since that time the Colony's growth in population and commerce has been phenomenal and the pace of building construction quite staggering.
Even allowing for an increase in population of 60 per cent. compared with 1956, the value of all new build- ing and civil engineering work com- pleted per annum has increased five times.
It was in 1956 that the Building Contractors' Association of Hong Kong became a founder member of IFAWPCA, and it is my opinion that the International Federation has made important contribution to the Colony's rapid development.
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The exchange of information one of IFAWPCA's main purposes and the results of this exchange are to be seen in Hong Kong today. Before 1956 our members rarely, if ever, went abroad to learn new techniques. Certainly they had nothing like the regular
the regular contacts abroad they now have, even though our association has a long history.
The Building Contractors' Associa- tion of Hong Kong was conceived in the year 1920 through the indefatig- able work of its 25 founders, to whom the vast majority of the pre- sent member firms can trace their origin.
In the year 1930 the Association was incorporated as a limited liability company without share capital. The objects of the Association are best exemplified by reference to the Memorandum of Association of the Limited Company which read, in part, as follows:
(a) To promote the consideration
and discussion of all questions
by
Họ lu Kwong
President
Building Contractors'
Association
affecting the building trade and generally to watch over and protect the interest of persons engaged in the building trade. (b) To originate and promote im- provements in the law, and to support or oppose alterations therein, and to effect improve ments in administration, and for the purposes aforesaid, to petition the Authorities, and and take such other steps proceedings as may be deemed expedient.
(c) To promote excellence in the construction of buildings, and just and honourable practice in the conduct of business, and to suppress malpractice. (d) To arrange and promote the adoption of equitable forms. of contracts and other docu- ments used in the building trade, and to encourage the settlement of disputes by arbi- tration, and to act as or nomin- ate arbitrators and umpires on such terms and in such cases as may seem expedient. The articles of association define the qualification for full membership and the main qualification is that the firm applying for membership be one registered with the Public Works Department as approved for the execution of Government Works. This measure has limited the mem- bership of the Association but has had the effect of giving it more power.
Far East Architect & Builder November, 1965
Present membership totals 267, including associate members, but when compared with the number of licensed contractors who total some 1,250 this would not appear to be very fair representation of the build- ing industry. A better comparison is shown when it is noted that the num- ber of contractors qualified to carry out works for Government is but 122 of whom 59 are members of the as- sociation.
The Association, throughout the years, has done its best to achieve the objects for which it was formed but with the ever changing techniques of the building industry such objects require revision to keep up with the times.
In addition to matters concerning the building industry the Association has also undertaken the financing, construction and operation of a primary school for some 600 pupils. This has not been done without effort on the part of the members who have given their time and money to these projects.
I believe that generally the standing of other contractors' associations in their own countries is somewhat associa- higher than that of our tion in Hong Kong. Here again the holding of the Sixth IFAWPCA Con- vention in Hong Kong will aid im- measurably in increasing our standing with the community and the various Government departments, architects and engineers. In this one respect alone we are grateful to be members of the Federation.
HILTON
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