It is my great honour and pleasure to serve you as the Chairman of the Young Surveyors Group (YSG) and to work with my committee members and co-opted members who provided unfailing support in the past twelve months.
YSG’s distinctive culture and values drives me to throw myself in voluntarily in the past 6 years. YSG always works to achieve our major objectives: 1) Promoting the surveying profession, 2) exploring new opportunities for the young members, and 3) offering assistance to our young members in their studies, their career as well as their network. This year, similar to our former JO/YSG committee, we have put a lot of efforts in strengthening the bond among young surveyors and fostering the continuity of the surveying industry. We organized over 40 events (both CPD and social events) with nearly 2,600 participants. Through these events, we have successfully developed an irreplaceable platform for our young members from different divisions to interact with each other, to stay connected with each other, to learn together, to have fun together and to work together for the future of our surveying industry.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Since February 2011, we have organized a total of 33 CPD events, including seminars, site visits and study tour. They offered our members a lot of excellent learning experience. Apart from gaining additional profession related knowledge, CPD events also promote ideas such as lifetime learning, green and healthy lifestyle that a professional should concern about. Both internal and external speakers shared with our members a wide range of topics. They did not only give market insight, research and updated information about the profession, but also interesting topics such as reading experience, health advice and environmental protection matters. Besides, 5 site visits, including a metal works factory at Zhu Hai, Taikoo Hui at Guangzhou, MTR west island line, Sewage Conveyance System from North Point to Stonecutter Island and the MTR training centre were organized during the period. In addition, 50 members from different divisions participated in an ecotour to the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China in Wong Chuk Kok Tsui （黃竹角咀）, Lai Chi Wo （荔枝窩）, Kat O （吉澳） and Ap Chau （鴨洲）.
Social Events
To keep members’ work-life balance and help our young members to build up their network within the profession, we have planned 14 social events last year. 8 of them which included sport events, interest classes and food tasting events were successfully rolled out. Details are as follows:-
- Oyster Tasting Class
- Thai Boxing Class
- Hair Styling Class
- Indoor Rolling
- Dragon Boat Championships
- Baking Class
- Surveyors League 2011
- Hairy Crab Dinner
I am glad to receive many positive feedbacks from members on the above events, in particular the Surveyors League 2011. Being the only basketball competition within the Institute since 2006, Surveyors League 2011 attracted 8 teams, which comprised of nearly 100 members from different divisions, to compete for the championship. After 16 exciting games within 2 months, TBC had won the championship and Mr Anson Leung from RLB had become the top soccer of this series.
YSG Study Tour 2011
On 12 October 2011, a team of 31 members including the President departed from Hong Kong to Chongqing for the YSG Study Tour 2011. The team spent 6 days in this latest municipality of China. The team visited to the local government departments and met the local practitioners to understand the history, culture, planning and development, real estate market and major projects in the city. During the tour, we learnt that, after Pudong and Binhai, there is a new development zone at Chongqing - Liangjiang which has recently been approved by National Council. The team identified that there will be a lot of great opportunities available for surveyors.
YSG Annual Dinner 2011
On 12 November 2011, over 140 participants, including guests from different institutes and sponsors, were gathered at Ma Wan for the YSG Annual Dinner 2011. The theme of the dinner party this year was “Hawaii”. By the beautiful Tsing Ma Bridge, participants wearing the beach dress enjoyed delicacies and had fun together under the Hawaii music performed by a professional DJ. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to every sponsor this year.
Promoting the Surveying Profession
YSG was responsible for the design and management of the Instiute’s booth at the Career Expo in HKCEC last year. During this 4-day event, over 700 people from the public visited our booth. A set of leaflet with brand new design was developed for distribution in the event. It enables the public and the young generation to learn more about what surveying profession is and what surveyors do.
For the tertiary level, the committee delivered several career talks to the surveying students of CityU, HKU and PolyU, aiming to give introduction to the students about surveying profession in different disciplines, the scope of services provided by different surveyors, background and structure of the institute, and the latest career trend.
Inter-professional activities
In February 2011, YSG jointly held a one-day seminar on contract management with HKIE, LSHK, CIARB, CIBSE & ICE. Apart from this, the working group regularly organized social events across the young groups of different professional organizations. This year, our Vice Chairman, Mr Kenny Chan, was elected as the Chairman of this joint task force. More joint events would be expected in the coming year.
Government Events
Apart from the above, our members also participated in different government events, for example, the Construction Industry Charity Concert, 2011 Mainland organized by Development Bureau, and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum organized by Development Bureau and CIC. Finally, I would like to thank all of our committee members, co-opted members and student representatives for their great efforts and thank all members for your continuous support.
I believe that, under the leadership of the new Chairman of the Young Surveyors Group and his committee members, YSG’s culture and value will continue the YSG’s culture and values and bring us to strive for greater success. I look forward to seeing you again in the coming YSG events. Wish YSG all the best in the future!
