Regional News for October 2007

Transcription

1 Mr. Andrew Keung, Chairman of the Region Mr. Chan, Nai Keung, Secretary of the Region Regional News for October 2007 Mediation on ICES Stage casting (L to R): The Narrator, Mr. HF Leung; the Contractor, Mr. William Kong; the Mediator, Mr. Steven Yip; the Client, Mr. James Lee. Thank them for their great performance. Dear members and guests, please move to the seats in front as we got 171 participants crowding at the back 9 Oct 2007: 171 participants attended the seminar on Demonstration of Mediation presented by Hong Kong Mediation Council at the function room in Hong Kong Productivity Council Building. Mediation has become an increasingly popular way of resolving disputes in Hong Kong. The main reason for the increase in popularity of mediation is that parties and their advisers have become more aware of the advantages that mediation has over litigation and arbitration. Through a role play, Mr William Kong, Consultant of Anthony So & Co; Dr James Lee, Barrister, Architect and Professor of Law; Mr H F Leung, Barrister and Associate Professor of Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong; and Mr Steven Yip, Partner of Minter Ellison presented a short and vivid demonstration of a professional mediation on stage. Much more, the audiences relished the speakers remarkable performance as they could really see the mediation and its advantages. Once again, the rate of participation of this seminar hits the record and thanks Mr. Simon Leung, our CPD convenor, and his team in organising this seminar to us.

2 11 Oct 2007: 67 participants attended the seminar on Fender Design Process and Development presented by Bridgestone, JFE SHOJI TRADE (Hong Kong) Ltd. at HKIE Headquarter. Mr Brandon Wong introduced the concept of energy absorption of a marine fender and the selection of various marine fender models. In designing marine fender system, Mr. Mr Chiew Kah Keet explained the details of berthing energy calculation, fender selection, steel panel design and the design considerations of the jetty such as the structural layout, jetty surrounding environmental conditions and vessel geometry. Mr. Brandon Wong introduced the concept of rubber fender system and the various types of rubber fender systems. Mr. Simon Leung (L), our CPD convener, presented our souvenir, a ball pen built-in with USB flash memory to Mr. Chiew Kah Keet Coming Events 20 Nov 2007: CPD function, Practical Approach in Preparing EOT Claims presented by Mr Jeffrey Wong, Director of Michael Charlton & Company Limited in Lecture Theatre PQ304, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 4 Dec 2007: CPD function, Why Arbitrate? presented by Mr Philip Yang, FCIArb, a Master Mariner and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. He is also a Visiting Professor of School of Law, the City University of Hong Kong. It is a joint function with HKIE and venue to be announced.

3 Coming Events (cont d) 17 Dec 2007: CPD function, Concurrent Delay and Culpable Delay presented by Mr Michael Charlton of Michael Charlton & Company Limited. Time and venue to be announced. Jan 2008: CPD function, Dispute Resolution presented by Mr Peter Ho, EC Harris. Date and venue to be announced. General An unforgettable night in Macao Macao was once known as the Monaco of Asia, with its Grand Prix, glamour and gambling. Now it becomes a merchant of Venice. Some prefer to say it is Asia s Las Vegas, driven by the Venetian Macao-Resort Hotel and many other hotel s industry big names. Just one week after the officially opening of the $US2.4 billion Venetian Macao-Resort Hotel, some corners of Hong Kong have quietly admitted that the Hotel together with its convention centre opens later this year, certainly has the style, shape and substance to shift the centre of gravity for meetings and business events (or in their jargon, MICE, Meeting, Innovation, Conference, Entertainment, not Member of Civil Engineers) in the Asia-Pacific region. Seeing is believing. Arriving Macao for the first ICES gathering in the late afternoon on 24 October, I could see the transformation in my own eyes too. Yes, Macao is generating energy and appeal all its own. While the new epicenter of the MICE is taking shape, the other engineering infrastructure project has just begun. No wonder it has amassed so many talents from the construction professions in Hong Kong to work over there.

4 General (cont d) The restaurant Mr. Lam Lit Yin, our committee member (Head of Macao affairs) expressed his warmest welcome to all members and guests. Our Regional Chairman, Mr. Andrew Keung gave an opening speech of his vision in developing Macao branch. Our first ICES Macao gathering was held in the restaurant of INSTITUTO DE FORMACAO TURISTICA at Mong-Ha Hill. 33 members and guests have gathered together to share their Macao experiences and encounters with us. Mr Andrew Keung, the Regional Chairman greeted those ICES members who now station in Macao and thanked them for introducing their friends and colleagues to the Institution. Our members were enthusiastic about the idea of forming the ICES Macao Branch and congregated round Mr. Keung for his vision...during the dinner, our Chairman exchanged views on the current surveying practices with our Guests of Honour, Messrs. David Tou and Chan Cheong, Secretary and committee member of the Associacao de Geografia e Topo-Cartografia de Macau, and discussed the future collaboration in the development of the surveying profession in Macao

5 General (cont d) Our Vice Chairperson (External), Miss Miranda discussed with Messrs. David Tou (right) and Chan Cheong Secretary and committee member of the Associacao de Geografia e Topo- Cartografia de Macau of our Macao branch development. An unforgettable night in Macao! If we were a tree, can you see our branch is growing

6 One more voice in the Council of Management Congratulation! Andrew Paired with Mr. Eric Lo, Mr. Andrew Keung, our Regional Chairman, was nominated by the President as the co-opted member of the Council of Management and will attend the Council Meeting in Sales in December From now on, we will have two voices in the Council. Please feel free to contact Eric and Andrew if you have any opinions and recommendations reflecting to Council members. Once again, congratulation to Andrew! You did the right things right. End