Vincent (Mr Vincent CHEN, General Manager, Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macau, Autodesk), Dr Kam (Dr Calvin KAM, BIM Advisor, and Adjunct Professor at Stanford University), the awardees, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon everyone! I am glad to join you all today at this Autodesk Hong Kong Building Information Modelling (BIM) Awards Presentation Ceremony. First of all, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees. The impressive achievements you made have not only exhibited your remarkable talent but also highlighted the transformative power of BIM technology in the construction industry. By harnessing the power of technology, we will not only drive innovation but also shape the future.

BIM technology significantly enhances our capability to manage retrofitting projects, space planning, and the maintenance of building assets. Its vast potential for integration with other advanced construction technologies offers exciting opportunities for optimising operations and maintenance. This in turn facilitates effective facilities management (FM) and asset management (AM). Indeed, BIM plays a pivotal role in boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of the construction of many iconic buildings and engineering projects throughout Hong Kong.

To further foster the digitalisation of the construction industry, the Government mandated the adoption of BIM for major government capital works projects since 2018. As of end-March 2024, the total estimated value of construction works utilising BIM has reached $316 billion, accounting for about 87% of the total construction volume of capital works projects by value. In addition, the Government introduced the “Roadmap for the Adoption of BIM for Building Plan Preparation and Submission” at the end of last year (2023). Under the Roadmap, public bodies including the Urban Renewal Authority, Hong Kong Housing Society and MTR Corporation Limited would pioneer the adoption of BIM, setting a model for the private sector to follow in their various scale projects. Looking ahead, we aim to propose the mandatory full adoption of BIM by the private sector for the preparation and submission of building plans by 2029.

The Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2024 has also highlighted the importance of innovation in driving the sustainable development of the construction industry. To promote the wider adoption of innovative technologies, the Government established the Building Testing and Research Institute (BTRi) in August 2024. The BTRi will lead applied research and development (R&D) activities for innovative materials, construction methods and technologies. It will also devise standards, conduct testing and provide accreditation. Through collaboration with government authorities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the BTRi aims to foster interconnectivity and integrated development, establishing a brand of “GBA Standards” for various construction domains, such as materials, design and construction methods. This initiative aims to develop the GBA into one of the regions with the most advanced construction technologies, transforming the construction industry into a new quality productive force. Besides, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) has selected 10 Public Rental Housing estates as pilot sites for smart estate management and will progressively apply the Project Information Management and Analytics Platform in new public housing projects starting next year, enhancing works efficiency by project management digitalisation and adopting three-dimensional digital maps and virtual digital models, etc.

Apart from advocating for R&D in construction technologies, the Government also provides funding support to encourage wider adoption of innovative technologies across the industry. After the launch of the $1 billion Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) in 2018, we further injected an additional $1.2 billion in 2022. The CITF covers a broad scope including BIM and other advanced construction technologies. As of August (2024), over 2 100 BIM-related projects totalling $166 million have been approved under the fund.

Looking forward, the Government will continue to drive and support the robust development of BIM and other innovative technologies. Before I close, let us once again congratulate all the awardees. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing more breakthroughs you will make in bringing about innovative solutions and new services in the years to come!

Thank you.

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