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SCMP Reporter

Building boom in Macau and China creates demand for professionals
Not only do Hong Kong's booming developments require the expertise of civil engineers, architects and builders, they also depend on the know-how of quantity surveyors.
With an intense understanding of contracts and close liaison with project managers, these highly skilled professionals are vital to any large-scale building project.
According to Sam Tang Chu-kit,  a project quantity surveyor with Hong Kong curtain-wall specialist Permasteelisa HK,  many local quantity surveyors are working, not in Hong Kong but in Macau, thanks to the huge site developments there.
Because of this shift of talent to Macau, there are significant vacancies in Hong Kong, with more to come over the next five to 10 years, thanks to large-scale infrastructure, building maintenance and reclamation projects.
'Due to the changes in the economic atmosphere, developers are keen to build new developments,' Mr Tang said.
'Talent is also moving to the mainland,' added Robert Smith,  the divisional commercial manager of Gammon Construction.
'Because of the signing of Cepa, and other reciprocal agreements between Hong Kong and mainland surveying institutes, the trend is that more and more quantity surveyors are going to the mainland, either to work, or to provide services for China from Hong Kong,' Mr Smith said.
'That said, despite the increase in posts across the border and in Macau, many quantity surveyors based in those locations are still working for Hong Kong companies, or operating out of Hong Kong while being responsible for Macau and mainland projects,' he said.
On the other hand, Mr Tang noted that while over the past couple of decades mainland talent has been scarce while the demand for Hong Kong talent was high, the number of quantity surveyors has recently increased on the mainland.
According to Mr Smith, services offered by quantity surveyors are many and varied. These range from cost planning and life-cycle costing, to value management and value engineering, as well as project management, preliminary cost advice, procurement methods and contractual advice.
In addition, tendering, construction work valuation, cost control and financial management, financial claims and programme analysis, dispute resolution and insurance advice, can all come under the responsibility of a quantity surveyor.
'A professional quantity surveyor should have an understanding of all disciplines to properly handle different kinds of jobs,' Mr Smith said.
Thanks to the shortage of qualified quantity surveyors in Hong Kong, the liberalisation of the mainland market, and the construction boom in Macau, deciding to train in this field could be tempting.
According to Mr Tang, potential quantity surveyors can either take a bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, also known as construction economics management.
'There are a number of organisations offering professional qualifications to quantity surveyors,' said Mr Smith.
'Take the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, which has the largest number of corporate QS members in Hong Kong, as an example.
'People must study a related subject at university to become a probationary member of the institute. They must have at least two years' related work experience and pass the professional competence assessment before they can become certified quantity surveyors. They must also attend an interview,' Mr Smith said.
Other avenues open to potential local quantity surveyors include the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Australian Institute of Surveyors.
Although there are more men in the local industry, this position could change with a growing number of women looking to join the profession.
Regardless of gender, employment prospects are good and are likely to remain so, according to Mr Smith.
Although 'as a financial, commercial person, everything is a challenge,' according to Mr Tang, finding a post should not be difficult for a qualified individual in the long term.
Further afield, Mr Tang noted that the large number of property developments around the globe point to good opportunities for quantity surveyors.
'In the present environment, the economic atmosphere is ensuring many new projects and good career opportunities for quantity surveyors,' he said.
'Once you have professional qualifications and reach management grade, you can earn excellent money.'
Key players
Private developer
Professional quantity surveyor
Contractor
Subcontractor
Insurance specialist
Jargon
Bill of quantities are provided in contract documents and prepared by the quantity surveyor to show cost data of a construction project
Standard method of measurement is issued by institutes to break down a structure into different kinds of quantities
Dispute resolution the provision of different services to resolve disputes arising from the construction contract
Procurement methods the different types of construction required which affect the form of contract used
Cost planning a specialist technique developed by quantity surveyors aimed to help the construction team arrive jointly at practical designs for a project and keep it within budget



HK surveyors offer quantity and quality