Ir Michael FONG Hok-shing, JP

@ Director of Civil Engineering and Development, CEDD, Welcoming Speech

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all esteemed speakers, distinguished guests and participants of the International Conference on Concrete Technologies 2024.

The Hong Kong SAR Government remains committed to our vision of a sustainable, zero-carbon future.  Our Climate Action Plan 2050, announced in 2021, lays out our commitment to achieving “Zero-Carbon Emissions ∙ Livable City ∙ Sustainable Development.”  The construction industry in Hong Kong, while playing a pivotal role in the city’s economic and infrastructure development, faces an inevitable challenge in responding to the climate call by minimising carbon emissions.

Recognising that construction materials contribute to more than one-tenth of the embodied carbon globally, and with concrete being a primary material used extensively in the industry, the Standing Committee on Concrete Technology (SCCT), administered by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) under the Development Bureau (DEVB) has spearheaded various initiatives to address the issue.

Our efforts are not just limited to policy and strategy but extended to active implementation.  For instance, the SCCT has championed the wider adoption of low carbon concrete materials such as Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) concrete in public works projects, and initiated studies on and pilot applications of innovative construction materials such as blast resistant sprayed concrete, waste-glass concrete, lightweight concrete and Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), just to name a few.  Most recently, we co-operate with Hong Kong Polytechnic University for piloting the use of 3D-printed low carbon concrete for construction of planters and formwork for columns.

To keep up the momentum, we have collaborated with the Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to bring you this international conference, during which we will delve into emerging concrete technologies and cutting-edge construction solutions, and explore how these could enhance the efficiency, productivity, cost-effectiveness, safety, health, and environmental friendliness of the construction industry as a whole.

We are proud to continue the traditions of our Annual Concrete Seminar through this conference, sharing valuable experiences and insights that will drive us forward in our pursuit of a sustainable and carbon-neutral construction industry. Together, we can shape the cities of tomorrow with resilience, innovation, and responsibility.