FRIDAY, MARCH, 19, 1982
HKIE GAINS GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR DAVID MCDONALD, ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
ADDRESSING THE INSTITUTION'S SEVENTH ANNUAL DINNER, HE SAID THAT MEANT THE INSTITUTION WOULD NOW ENJOY EQUAL STATUS WITH OTHER RECOGNISED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS.
MR MCDONALD RECALLED THAT THE HKIE HAD PURSUED ITS REQUEST FOR RECOGNITION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
HOWEVER, HE SAID: THE GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE INSTITUTION COULD DEMONSTRATE AND ENSURE THAT, ON ALL COUNTS, ITS TRAINING AND ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS MET THE HIGH STANDARDS REQUIRED OF RECOGNISED PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND THAT THE INSTITUTION HAD THE STRENGTH, THE WILL AND THE RESOURCES TO EXERCISE DISCIPLINE AND MAINTAIN THOSE STANDARDS.+
HE SAID THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY A PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTION BORE ON GAINING GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION WAS GREAT AND RECOGNITION WAS NOT GIVEN LIGHTLY.
+HOWEVER, NOW FEEL ASSURED THAT THIS PROFESSIONAL BODY CAN MEET THE PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF ITS YOUNG ASPIRING ENGINEERS AND THOSE OF THE PROFESSION AS A WHOLE,+ MR MCDONALD SAID.
ON THE DEMAND FOR TECHNICIAN AND PROFESSIONAL MANPOWER IN HONG KONG, MR MCDONALD SAID IT HAD OVER THE YEARS CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDED THE LOCALLY AVAILABLE SUPPLY.
+THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN LARGELY BROUGHT ABOUT BY A CONTINUING EXPANSION OF THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, WHICH IN TURN HAS REQUIRED MORE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS TO MEET OUR NEEDS THAN ARE PRODUCED LOCALLY, MR MCDONALD SAID.
WE SAID THE INCREASED SPENDING ON PUBLIC WORKS IN RECENT YEARS WAS AN INDICATION OF THE INCREASING VOLUME AND COMPLEXITY OF WORK.
+ IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1978-79 THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMMES (EXCLUDING HOUSING AND LAND PURCHASES) WAS $2 064 MILLION. FOR 1979-80 THE FIGURE WAS $2 944 MILLION AND FOR 1980-81, 83 156 MILLION. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS YEAR IS $5 090 MILLION AND FOR 1982-83 IT IS $6 700 MILLION,+ MR MCDONALD SAID,
→THE GREATER PART OF THIS MONEY IS SPENT ON ROADS AND OTHER CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS, WATER SUPPLIES, THE KCR MODERNISATION PROGRAMME, THE AIRPORT AND HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT,
+THIS INCREASING COMMITMENT OVER THE YEARS HAS RESULTED IN
A CORRESPONDING GROWTH IN THE PVD PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING ESTABLISHMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO FILL ALL THE RESULTING VACANCIES BY LOCAL RECRUITMENT.+
HE SAID