Briefing on new measures facilitating architectural and engineering sectors to start business and practise in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (with photos)
15.7.2020

The Development Bureau today (July 15) briefed local architectural and engineering sectors on new measures under the Interim Guidelines for the Management of Hong Kong Engineering Construction Consultant Enterprises and Professionals Starting Business and Practising in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cities (Interim Guidelines) which facilitate enterprises and professionals in starting businesses and practising in the nine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, and the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Lam Sai-hung, hosted the briefing. The Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Ms Bernadette Linn; the Director for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (Special Duties), Mr Tommy Yuen; and representatives from construction-related professional institutions and associations as well as professional registration boards also attended. "Since the promulgation of the Outline Development Plan for the GBA in February last year, cities within the area are rapidly taking forward development in accordance with the guiding directions set out in the plan, bringing about tremendous opportunities for the architectural and engineering sectors in Hong Kong. The Development Bureau has been proactively deliberating with the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province to set up a simple registration system to facilitate eligible enterprises and professionals to start businesses and practise in the GBA. The new measures were approved by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China days ago," Mr Wong said at the briefing. The Interim Guidelines allow consultant firms on the two Government lists, i.e. the Architectural and Associated Consultants Selection Board of the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) and the Engineering and Associated Consultants Selection Board of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), as well as professionals registered with relevant registration boards in Hong Kong, to be able to directly provide services in the GBA by obtaining equivalent qualifications in the Mainland through a registration system. In addition, under the new measures, consultant firms in Hong Kong can set up companies in the GBA according to their needs after they have successfully bid on a project. Mr Wong said the new measures will be implemented on a trial basis for five years. The Development Bureau will discuss with the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province on the specific arrangements and details for implementing the measures as soon as possible. He hoped that the new measures will help local architectural and engineering sectors to grasp opportunities in the GBA and expand their businesses. In the briefing today, participants were also briefed on similar measures promulgated by the Development Bureau with the Authority of Qianhai and the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area, of which, in addition to the above mentioned consultant firms on the two Government lists of the ArchSD and CEDD, companies on the Approved List of Contractors and company members of professional institutions/associations are also included. The accreditation requirement in Hengqin has been implemented since December last year and a number of consultant firms and professionals in Hong Kong have been successfully registered.