本月初，我参与了一个十分有意义为期七天的北海道300公里慈善单车游。今次是继上年度完成环台慈善1000 公里单车壮举后再次参予慈善团体「点滴是生命」举办的单车筹款活动。今次能够在太平洋水平线上踩单车，踩进一望无际的花海，享受与大自然交流的日子，洗涤身心，忘却烦忧又能筹款帮助中国西北部缺水的国内同胞筹建大型集雨水窖及塘霸，真是一大乐事。这次我们一行20 多人一起以双脚踩单车，踩出彩虹，踩出人生的一次难忘经历！我们第一天到达北海道二世古，经过一晚充份休息。第二天正式开始踩单车，是日需要踩50 公里长的路途其中并有不少山路要克服，总体是环绕羊蹄山脚一个圈。由于是第一天踩车，早上体力比较好，但下午爬坡时就显得有点吃力。最要命的是最后踩回酒店的短短3 至4 公里的斜坡就有7至 8 度的斜度，比较鹿颈还要斜。如果不是靠意志及团队的支持，我想一半路程未到就会放弃。但能够征服斜坡的满足感相信所有单车友都明白是何等的兴奋。
第三天由二世古沿着羊蹄山骑行55 公里到留寿都。顺带一提，由于羊蹄山的山形与富士山极为相似，且山顶常有云雾围绕着，固有北海道富士山之称。而附近环境极之优美。北海道盛产南瓜，沿途路餐时找了间小店品尝，果然甜美甘香。第四天环绕洞爷湖踩车，享受湖光山色。不过天公不造美，午饭过后不断下大雨及有雷暴。幸好完成一天60 公里路程后，晚上入住温泉酒店，除了可以享受浸温泉消除日间的疲劳外，晚上在近岸的洞爷湖边还有烟花表演！第五天由洞爷湖沿北太平洋海踩入室兰，是日在进入室兰时有很多上坡落坡的路程非常具挑战性，不过庆幸经过多天的锻炼，总算勉强支持到底，完成55 公里的行程。无论如何，想起登别的地狱温泉，心情还是兴奋莫明。
第六天也是最后一天踩车，教练在早餐时已表明今天各人要完成 80 公里路程，途中还有2 、3 个比较鹿颈及大屿山斜度的山坡要爬，大家要有心理准备接受挑战。最后几经辛苦用汗水加斗志，咬实牙龈完成行程踩入支芴湖冲线。
Delegates from 深圳市前海现代服务业合作管理局人力资源处处长李峰先生、主任谢永刚先生及深圳市监理工程协会副会长傅晓明先生visited the HKIS on 27 September 2012. Sr Stephen Lai, SVP, together with other divisional representatives and OBs, rendered our warm welcome to the delegates. Since this was our first formal meeting, we exchanged views on how HKIS members could assist and actively participate in this exciting project. We also tried to ask for a mutual agreement on a more flexible licensing system for both individual professionals and companies compared to the existing arrangement under the CEPA. During the long deliberation, our guests responded positively by showing an open-minded approach to our recommendations and suggestions. But, of course, they need to overcome hurdles on making breakthroughs within the current legal framework of Mainland China, particularly in the area of setting up firms for professional practices.
I invited Mr Jack Chan, Deputy Director of the Home Affairs Department, for lunch with our President, Sr Serena Lau, and our Immediate Past Chairman, Sr Gary Yeung, on 26 September. Mr Chan took over the office from Mr David Leung last year. Currently, his office has been very businesslike in drafting the bills for Licensing both the Property Management Companies and Practitioners, as well as the BMO review. Apart from enjoying the food, we had a good time sharing our views on the aforementioned issues and took the opportunity to explain our stances again. Mr Chan also kindly accepted my invitation to join the HKIS Annual Dinner.
The CEPA committee has decided to visit Beijing by late November of this year. Hopefully, we will have a similar meeting schedule as last year. Sr Kenneth Chan and I will join this visit. We shall meet delegates from 中国物业管理协会and 北京物业管理协会, as planned, to follow up on the issues discussed last year.
On 5 October 2012, I was invited by the Department of Building & Real Estate at HKPU as its guest speaker as part of its mentoring nights. I explained the nature and prospects of the Property Management discipline of the Surveying Profession to a group of third and fourth year Property Management Degree program students. My experiences over the past few years, including this year, reinforced my belief that we need to put more effort into publicizing and educating university students to boost their interest in becoming professional PFM surveyors after graduation. After months of preparation, I am pleased to inform you that the Quality Property & Facility Management Award (QPFMA) 2012, jointly organized by The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and The Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, will be opened for nominations on 1 November. This year, the main theme of the Award is “Championing Innovation Service through Quality Management”. Due to the overwhelming response to the 2010 Awards, we have introduced new award categories, such as the Tenant Purchase Scheme & Public Housing; the Home Ownership Scheme & Public Participation Scheme; the Sandwich Class Housing Scheme and Institutional Facility Management, etc., in order to cope with the wider recognition of the QPFMA. Members’ attentions should be drawn to the launch announcement and I will keep you updated on it over the coming month.
Our division’s big day of the year is coming. The PFMD Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 20 November 2012 at 7 PM at the Surveyor Learning Centre. Members are invited to join this annual event and, as usual, help themselves to the council’s treat of small chow after the AGM.
