Construction Industry

112.    Despite its acclaim for high efficiency, Hong Kong's construction industry must continue to upgrade through wider adoption of innovative technology to enhance productivity, built quality, environmental performance and site safety.  The Construction Industry Council (CIC) established the Construction Innovation and Technology Application Centre last year, leading the industry to embrace innovation through collecting, exhibiting and experiencing the latest construction technologies and applications.

113.    Starting this year, the Government will adopt building information modelling (BIM) technology in the design and construction of major government capital works projects.  The CIC will formulate BIM technical standards, help equip the industry and encourage the use of such technology in private works projects.

114.    Furthermore, we are now assisting the industry in establishing large-scale, highly automated steel reinforcing bar prefabrication yards.  The Government will also take the lead in piloting Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) in public projects.  We are considering extending the current gross floor area concessions for promoting green and innovation buildings to cover buildings adopting MiC. We are also conducting studies on relevant manufacturing facilities to promote the wider use of such a construction method in Hong Kong.

Construction Innovation and Technology Fund

115.    I propose to set up a $1 billion Construction Innovation and Technology Fund to boost the capacities of enterprises and practitioners in the construction industry to adopt new technology, and support the industry to harness innovative technology.  Eligible contractors, registered sub-contractors and consultants can apply for financial support from the Fund to acquire the software and hardware as well as to nurture the expertise required for using local and overseas innovative construction technologies, such as BIM, steel reinforcing bar products produced in local prefabrication yards and MiC when carrying out construction projects.  The Fund will also support students and practitioners of the construction industry to receive training on innovative construction technologies.