Think of the professions that distinguish Hong Kong from other world cities and people are tempted to cite the go-getters of finance working in gleaming towers of steel and glass. It is a misconception that irks those in engineering, for without their skills and creativity, the very structures inhabited each day by our financial wizards would not exist.
Civil engineering in Hong Kong has reached the stage where graduates entering the profession can be assured that their training will enable them to play their part in world-class projects. Icons such as the Tsing Ma Bridge, Two IFC, Hong Kong International Airport and the unrivalled MTR and KCRC networks are civil engineering projects which are the envy of world capitals.
'The beauty of civil engineering is that provided you have very good know-how and ability, then you can actually work anywhere in the world,' said Henry Liu, civil discipline representative of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).
'Hong Kong has changed from what it used to be 30 to 40 years ago when civil engineers came to work here, but now we are at the stage where we are professionally equipped to the extent that we actually export our expertise. We in Hong Kong are now able to build for other countries, including European countries.'
The HKIE is an internationally recognised body representing professional engineers in Hong Kong, and more than 40 per cent of its corporate membership of 10,000 qualified engineers is made up of civil engineers. When graduates with a civil engineering degree are taken on by construction firms, the government, consultancies or utility companies, they pursue at least three years of training, including work on site, with assessments and examinations accredited by the HKIE.
With players in the financial markets too often getting the plaudits for Hong Kong's success, engineers shake their heads wistfully when they hear of civil engineering graduates who choose the quick bucks of banking and finance over a profession which creates often awe-inspiring structures.
The contribution of civil engineers can be seen in our buildings and highways, the labyrinth of tunnels and network of wiring above and below each street that ensure Hong Kong can function around the clock.