Larger scope proposal for HK–Mainland construction reciprocal scheme

Hong Kong and mainland authorities are in talks to allow more construction professionals to work on either side of the border without taking additional tests to qualify, according to Hong Kong’s Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun.

Following a three-day visit to Beijing, Wong said he had discussed with officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on plans to expand the scheme in which construction professionals from both sides of the border were mutually recognised.

Under the present reciprocal scheme, six types of construction professionals— general practice surveyors, architects, structural engineers, planners, quantity surveyors and building surveyors— from Hong Kong and the mainland are already allowed to work on either side without requiring extra qualification exams.

Some 1,630 Hong Kong professionals have acquired mainland qualifications through the scheme, according to official data, while some 1,764 mainland professionals have obtained Hong Kong qualifications.

The Hong Kong government is pushing for easier access to the mainland for other professionals, such as supervision engineers, electrical engineers, building services engineers, landscape architects and land surveyors.

However, as reported by The South China Morning Post, local industry members are not excited at the prospect of working in mainland China as the Hong Kong market is still big enough for them.

Professor Jim Chi-yung, who teaches landscape architecture at the University of Hong Kong, said landscape architects had long been in short supply in the city and there was also not much need for them to seek opportunities on the mainland.

He added that if such architects ended up working across the border, it was because “Hong Kong firms take up mainland projects”.

“It’s not just a direct swap of qualifications. The professional bodies from both sides have to at least organise basic training courses, especially on differences in the legal framework,” said Andrew Kung Sui-lun, who previously led the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors’ building surveying division.

Some professionals, such as supervision engineers, also receive little incentive to seek mainland qualifications as they are paid less but bear a great deal of responsibility. — Construction+ Online