BD Consultancy Study on Energy Efficient Design for Residential Buildings in Hong Kong
Following the recent review of the OTTV design standard for commercial buildings in Hong Kong, Buildings Department has commissioned a consultancy study on energy efficient design for residential buildings. This study is intended to identify building design features, draw up requirements for the design and construction of residential buildings which may help reducing energy consumption and enhancing the energy efficiency of the buildings and make recommendations for implementation of the proposed requirements.

The consultant appointed by BD has completed part of the study and presented certain preliminary findings to the relevant professional institutes and organizations in a Multi-stakeholders Consultation Forum on 14 July 2011. A powerpoint presentation summarizing the brief findings and initial recommendations has been posted at the Institute's website for members' reference and information. Should you have any views or comments on the subject, you are most welcome to express your invaluable views by completing and returning the questionnaire to the consultant.

This is an important subject that may have great impact on the future design and construction of residential buildings, therefore it is worth spending some time to update the latest trend and your professional knowledge on the future development of this subject.

APC/ATC Reform
With the successful passage of the amendment to the constitutions and bye-laws in relation to the reform of the APC and ATC system on the EGM, a working group under BSD's Divisional Education Committee is working hard to finalize a review and reform of the associated APC/ATC rules and guide in response to the reformed system.

In order to collect more insightful views and suggestions on the core skills to be acquired by and training areas required for our new generations in facing of the changing market and social needs, I would like to encourage you to express your ideas or suggestions through email (email address: [email protected]). A forum to collect members' views will be arranged when the skeleton of a draft revised APC/ATC rules and guide is ready.

List of Expert Witness on Water Seepage (July 2011)
Members may recall that there is a plan to set up a list of expert witness and adjudicator for water seepage disputes to provide a platform for the public to access to these professional services. Indeed, it is an increasingly important role that we building surveyors would be competent and qualified to take up.

In fact, HKIS has been approached from time to time by legal practitioners for appointment of joint expert on water seepage pursuant to court orders. In response, we would like to invite our members with experience on water seepage diagnosis and as expert witness in court proceedings to enroll in the list of expert witness on water seepage. With this list, we can advance our profession services forward to other professional areas as well as the general public.

We will soon send out emails to our building surveying members for more details of the purported list of expert witness.

Facebook Communication Platform
Maybe you have yet visited the BSD's Page at Facebook, however after the promotion during the CPD event on NT Small House vis-a via UBWs in June, we have another 60 fans to the Page. I am pleased to announce that, at the time of writing this message, we have had over 200 fans joining the Page! You may see and review the sharing from the fellow building surveyors and recaps of the media reports of the comments and views of the division and the institute by visiting the BSD's Page at Facebook. I wish to make better use of this platform to share and communicate the news and information of the building surveying profession thus your signing up to the BSD's Page is very much appreciated. You may simply search "BSD Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors" in Facebook and press "Like" to join us!

CPD Events
A series of revision courses for the APC 2011 under our PQSL have been launched and a number of topics have been successfully conducted in July, i.e. "Condition Survey and Diagnosis of Defects", "Processing of application for licensed premises" and "Project Scheme Development". There will be some other important topics of seminars to be held in the coming months.

Two other CPD Events, "Devil of Common Parts" held on 12 July 2011 which was jointly organized by PFM and the other following the last hot topic of "PNAP APP-152 SBD" which was this time focused on its behind fundamental concept of urban ventilation lectured by Professor Edward Ng on 28 July 2011, have been successfully delivered. Attendants of the latter one should have gained better understanding on this newly implemented sustainable design guideline.

On 23 July, a guided tour was conducted to SCAD The University of Creative Career - former North Kowloon Magistracy which is the first batch of historical buildings under the "Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnering Scheme". Technical site visit to another historical building under the same scheme, Lui Seng Chun, which revitalization project has yet been completed will be held on 27 August 2011. Don't miss this chance to gain invaluable experience!

A tour to former North Kowloon Magistracy, a revitalization project under the "Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnering Scheme" on a fine sunny day!

How much do you know about our BSD Council?
I have introduced the CPD Panel in the June Issue. Here, I would like to introduce two BSD’s panels which work hard through publishing guides or useful documents in serving our members.

Preventive Maintenance Panel and Publication Panel are both led by our Council members Mr Kenny Tse and Mr Andrew Lam. Preventive Maintenance Panel aims to work out action plan for promoting BS in preventive maintenance field, in which we are the major stakeholder. The Panel is currently having a column in the Property Times（置業家居）for promoting our profession at a monthly basis and a guide to facilitate members to fulfill MBIS. It also works on the Maintenance Cost Data which will be published for the general public's reference when they are ready.

Publication Panel will soon publish "Guide to Prepare An Expert Report for Application under Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance, Chapter 545" for distribution to our qualified members. The Guide aims to provide comprehensive guidance for building surveyor on the preparation of an expert report and address the best practice in drafting an expert report.

BSD APC Practical Task 2011 (2-5 November 2011)
Applications for the Practical Task should be made on Form APC6/BS.

Re-applications should be made on From APC6R/BS and submitted together with a re-assessment fee of HK$1,000.

Applications will only be accepted if they are received by the HKIS Office within the month of August 2011.

Late applications will be rejected. Incomplete applications will not be entertained.