Building Surveyors Conference 2011-"Built Environment: Health and Safety"
25 years ago, the then Chairman of Building Surveying Division (BSD) Mr C K Lau and a group of founding members initiated the first Building Surveyors Conference in January 1987. Since then, the conference has become one of the most important annual events for building surveyors in Hong Kong every year.

In view of increasing public concerns on health and safety of built environment, HKIS organizes the Conference with the theme "Built Environment: Health and Safety"this year. The Conference aims to provide a platform for industry professionals, academia and practitioners to share their valuable experiences and insights. It is our honour to have invited Mr Leung Chun Ying, GBM, GBS, JP, Convenor of Non-official Member of the Executive Council, Chairman of the Hong Kong Coalition of Professional Services, to deliver a Keynote Speech at the Conference.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Conference. To celebrate this memorable occasion, a Conference Dinner is also arranged in the evening of the conference day (22 October 2011). We are most pleased to have Mr C K Lau, MH, JP to be the Guest of Honour of the Conference Dinner to share with us the history of the Building Surveyors Conference. We have also invited our distinguished Building Surveyors elected over the past years to join this function.

We would also present the award of Distinguished Building Surveyors 2011 in the dinner. Act now and register the Conference and the Conference Dinner, the special occasions for we building surveyors!

Date: 22 October 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:35 p.m.
Venue: Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon

Conference Dinner
Reception: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:15 p.m.
Venue: Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
Dress Code: Business Attire

Guide to Prepare an Expert Report for Application Under Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance, Chapter 545
Further to my message a couple of months ago regarding preparation of the Guide to assist our building surveyors to prepare a required expert report to Lands Tribunal for Compulsory Sales of existing buildings under Chapter 545, the Guide is now completed and ready for BS members' collection. All members of BSD may come and collect the Guide at HKIS office with the redemption voucher at the end of this message.

APC Series - Mock Practical Task
As part of the APC revision series for the candidates of the coming practical task assessment, a training camp jointly organized by BSD and YSG was held on 24 and 25 September 2011 at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Ma On Shan. 29 BS probationers joined the camp and participated in the Mock Assessment held the first day of the camp. 14 experienced BSs dedicated their valuable Saturday evening to serve as assessors on 24 September 2011. A sharing session was held after the presentation, probationers could have the chance to get comments from assessors. Through the sharing, the probationers were able to realise their presentation weaknesses and other inadequacies which would help them to have better preparation for the coming Practical Task. A theme talk - "The art of elevation design" was delivered on 25 September 2011 in the camp, during which a local practiced architect shared with us on the external facade treatment and design consideration for different types of development.

We are most grateful to have the volunteer assessors' assistance to conduct the mock interview.

Estate Agents Authority (EAA) - CPD talk
I was invited by the EAA to deliver a CPD talk to their members in September 2011 on Unauthorized Building Works with a view to assist their members to have a better and proper understanding of the subject. The talk was held at Y-Theatre, Youth Plaza, Chai Wan with attendance of near 600 members of EAA. I took the opportunity to emphasize the potential threats and risks that may be caused by UBWs to the owners and public and reminded EAA's members to consult professional building surveyors for proper advices on any UBW cases associated
with the potential transaction.