First "Dialogue with Secretary" event successfully conducted in Hong Kong

Young members in Hong Kong engaged with HKSAR government at Hong Kong’s first “Dialogue with Secretary” RICS event.

The first “Dialogue with Secretary” event was held on 27 April in Hong Kong successfully. RICS invited the Secretary for Development of HKSAR government, Ms. Bernadette Linn, JP, as the guest speaker and panelist, together with Samuel Lai of CBRE, Grant Yuen from Sun Hung Kai Properties, and Leo Yuen, Paco Cheung and Hiuming Chan from RICS HK Member Engagement Group. They delivered a great panel discussion on the future development of Hong Kong, the obstacles at the current state, and the opportunities ahead for the young professionals.

Miss Linn introduced the Northern Metropolis Development Plan to everyone present. She mentioned that the plan refers not only to regional construction, but more importantly to the planning facilities and adjustments of the entire Hong Kong planning mindset. Afterwards she introduced the updated and streamlined compulsory sale regime regarding the redevelopment of old areas to the young surveyors. She pointed out that the current buildings are seriously aged and the authorities hope that the public and private sectors will work together to speed up the pace of redevelopment of old areas, while protecting the small property owners.

The Secretary encouraged the young surveyors to provide more professional advices to the Development Bureau and the government, such as the resettlement compensation of the northern metropolis plan, urban-rural integration, public-private cooperative development model and promotion of industrial development, as well as the surveying profession's assistance in the redevelopment of old areas, etc., which are all very important. At the end, Ms. Linn invited RICS to provide assistance and advice to the upcoming Greater Bay Area Standard, and review of multi-storey buildings management.