Institution news
The Hong Kong branch of the Institution opened in 1997 and has increased its membership and activities ever since.
The branch’s founding Chairman (1997-2000) is Mr Edmund Leung Kwong Ho. In a special brochure to mark the 20th anniversary, Mr Leung said:
“I am pleasantly amazed to see how much the Hong Kong branch has grown in the last 20 years. Thanks to the great effort of our branch Chairman and his Committees, we now have over 100 events per year.
“This must be among the most active branch of oversees engineering institutions. Especially worthy to note is that a lot of these activities are for young members, providing ample opportunities to prepare themselves for their professional qualifications and cultivate a continuous learning habit early in their professional career.”
The Annual Dinner was an opportunity for over 420 attendees, including members and volunteers and their guests, to enjoy an evening of celebration and music. Mr Leung delivered a speech, as did the current Branch Chairman, Dr Barry Lee, who has served in this position since 2014.
Dr Lee emphasised the expansion of the branch and the reach of its activities as it works to promote the profession of engineering. He said:
“Tremendous effort has been spent to promote the image of mechanical engineering to secondary school students, their parents and the public through activities like Public forum, the Young Inventor Competition and Greater China Design Competition.”
He also mentioned the branch’s most recent work in Macau, including its hosting of a networking reception in Macau to attract new membership.
The Hong Kong branch has increased total membership from 2,609 to 3,738, a 43% increase between 2010 and 2017.
Among its social groups are a football team and the Dragon Boat racing team, launched in 2014.
It holds technical visits, overseas visits and a variety of conferences and symposiums. Among the development events it organises are Membership Drive activities and professional courses. It runs the Student Design Competition, Best Project Award; and celebrates the talents within its membership, often calling on experts from within the Institution community to lead informative seminars and share knowledge for the benefit of developing engineers.
The branch's volunteers work together and learn from each other, to promote the benefits of a career in engineering, for the good of society. Mr Leung said:
“Our branch has reached adulthood and continues to be strong and healthy. Let me wish our branch a successful and happy life for the next 20 years and beyond.”