Development opportunities abound in Electrical & Mechanical Sector
17 February 2019
With the rapid development of information technology (IT) and the popular use of smart phones, we can travel in the most convenient way by using the mobile application "HKeMobility" and transfer cash or pay for online shopping anytime, anywhere by making cross-bank/stored value facility payments through the Faster Payment System.
But who are the heroes behind all the convenience? Let's take online shopping as an example. Its success depends on the convenience it provides but there are three overriding conditions. First, there must be good IT infrastructure and network security. Second, there must be stable power supply to support the continuous operation of facilities. Third, there must be reliable logistics and transportation services. The unsung heroes are indeed the people in the electrical and mechanical (E&M) industry who support and secure the operation of the abovementioned facilities and systems, and enable the successful delivery of goods purchased through online shopping.
It is worth mentioning that Hong Kong ranked second in Asia and sixth in the world according to the annual global ICT Development Index published by the International Telecommunication Union in November 2017. Hong Kong also has a world-class power supply system which enjoys a reliability of 99.999%, and ranks third in Asia in terms of the Logistics Performance Index, which has taken into account various factors, including Hong Kong being the world's busiest airport for international air cargo, and the railway systems, automobiles, warehouse equipment and even lifts, elevators, etc. in our city.
E&M facilities are common or even ubiquitous in our daily lives. The recently trending 10 Years Challenge on the social media has prompted the idea that maybe we should also take a look at the development of Hong Kong over the past ten years. Looking back, it is easy to notice the significance of E&M industry in all areas of our development.
In terms of infrastructure, we completed a number of major projects in the last decade, including Phases I and II of the District Cooling System at Kai Tak Development, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the Hong Kong Children's Hospital, and the Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Island Eastern Corridor Link, which was commissioned last month. For infrastructural works projects, the expenses related to E&M facilities normally account for around 30% of the total cost; for hospital projects, the expenses related to E&M facilities and electronic medical equipment can be up to 40%.
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In terms of environmental protection, energy saving and energy efficiency improvement, Hong Kong's overall energy intensity decreased by over 28% in the past 11 years, with a current level of energy consumption of 280 000 terajoules per year. Compared with other economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Hong Kong is among the best in energy saving performance. The Government has been promoting environmental protection and energy saving actively. In the past five years, over 7 000 improvement projects related to energy saving have been implemented and a total of 2 300 GWh in electricity was saved. All these energy saving projects involved E&M facilities.
In terms of innovation and technology (I&T) development, the Internet of Things, robotics and communication technology, inter alia, require the support of E&M technology. As at the end of November last year, the Government's Innovation and Technology Fund approved over 9 000 I&T projects, involving total funding of over HK$15.1 billion. Of these 1 650 were E&M and IT projects, involving total funding of over HK$6 billion (accounting for about 40% of the total amount). It is apparent that the E&M industry plays an important role in furthering I&T development in Hong Kong.
Reaching into every part of the economy, the E&M industry enjoys a very optimistic prospect in Hong Kong. However, there are some people who think that "blue-collar workers will not have a bright future". This traditional concept has deterred some from entering the E&M industry even if they are interested in it.
According to the 2017 Manpower Survey Report of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Industry released by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), there were 66 594 employees in the E&M sector, of which 56% were at the tradesman/craftsman level, 24% at the technician level, 15% at the professional/technologist level and 5% at the semi-skilled/general worker level. A total of 2 892 E&M vacancies were noted across the levels and the vacancy rate ranged from 4% to nearly 7%.
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To avoid manpower shortage, we have to plan for the future as early as possible. For example, we should arouse youngsters' interest in the E&M industry and enhance their understanding of its development through I&T. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has established, in partnership with the E&M industry, the Hong Kong E&M Trade Promotion Working Group (the Working Group) to promote the E&M industry and nurture E&M talent.
The establishment of the Interactive Learning Centre by the EMSD is one of the measures implemented to attract youngsters to join the E&M industry. It features various training simulators of virtual reality and training facilities of holographic images and three-dimensional (3D) projection, which enable trainees to practise the relevant procedures of different E&M facilities under a safe environment and raise their safety awareness. These training facilities are particularly useful for learning about E&M facilities which are not easily accessible (e.g. boilers in hospitals). The training will help trainees to become familiar with the actual work environment and enhance their work efficiency.
To show my support for the industry, I have attended the "E&M GO!" Orientation Ceremony organised by the Working Group for two consecutive years. I can still remember an employee who started his career as a technician apprentice and was promoted to the post of planning engineer with a monthly income of over $50,000 after working in the field for just over ten years. He also had the chance to take part in some major infrastructural projects in recent years.
I am glad to see our younger generation having the courage to put their dreams into action and get rid of the old mindset about blue collar and white collar. The number of E&M apprentices in Hong Kong increased gradually from around 1 900 to around 2 500 in recent years, representing an increase of over 30%.
In my previous blog articles, I have pointed out that investing in infrastructure means investing in our future. In fact, young people who join the E&M industry are taking part in building a better future for Hong Kong, which in turn is the key to a bright future for themselves.
The Working Group will organise the Electrical and Mechanical Trades Expo 2019 at the Kwai Chung Training Centre Complex of VTC next month (on 8 March). I do encourage young people to pay a visit there to explore their opportunities in the E&M industry.
