QSD Booklet201309
QSD Booklet201309
QSD Booklet201309
Our Structure
Building Surveying Division
General Practice Division
Land Surveying Division
Planning & Development Division
Property & Facility Management Division
Quantity Surveying Division
Young Surveyors Group
Board of Membership
Board of Education
Board of Professional Development
1
Grade of Membership
Honorary Members - (Hon. FHKIS)
Full Members - (FHKIS)
- (MHKIS)
Technical Grade Members - (AMHKIS)
Training Grade Members - (Probationer)
- (Student)
Member Statistics
Experts in construction costs and contracts
Specially trained professionals
Estimate, monitor, assess construction costs
Invite, submit, enquire, evaluate and negotiate tenders
Draft and interpret contractual and commercial terms
?
Knowledge that quantity surveyors should possess?
Construction technology
Construction economics, resources consumption, productivity
Measurement and pricing
Budgeting and cost control
Contracts & law
Management skill / knowledge
3
What types of construction require quantity surveyors?
When are quantity surveyors required?
Inception stage
Design stage
Tendering stage
Construction stage
Final account stage
When resolving disputes
4
Career Prospects
Government departments
Housing Department, Housing Society, Urban Renewal
Authority, MTRC, other public bodies, academic institutions
Property developers
Quantity Surveying and Cost consultancy firms
Architectural or engineering consultants
Construction companies
Property management companies, incorporated owners
of properties
Arbitrators
Mediators, adjudicators and Dispute Resolution Advisors
Quantity Surveyor, Project Quantity Surveyor
QS Manager, Contract Manager, Commercial Manager,
Project Manager
Claims Consultant etc.
5
/
What can the developers / investors do with the help of quantity surveyors?
Assess whether to invest in a development
Choose the most cost-effective development scheme
Fix the development budget
Control the design to be within budget
Choose the most cost effective design and materials
Choose the most appropriate tendering procedure and contractual arrangement
Select and invite suitable contractors to tender
Describe adequately the construction requirements and work quantities to the
tenderers
Award the contract to the best tenderer
Have comprehensive contract documents
Know regularly the appropriate payable amounts of progress payments
Know regularly the updated construction costs varied due to changes
Control the construction costs and arrange for funds
Have the final construction costs properly controlled and valued
Safeguard reasonable entitlement when disputes over contractual rights and duties
or construction costs arise
6
What can the contractors do with the help of quantity surveyors?
Measure quantities and estimate prices when tendering
Review the terms of tender documents
Prepare tenders and negotiate tenders
Apply regularly for the appropriate amounts of progress payments
Choose the most cost effective construction methods
Calculate and update construction costs due to changes
Control the construction costs, income and cash flow
Secure the best final construction price
Safeguard reasonable entitlement when disputes over contractual rights and duties
or construction costs arise
Select and manage sub-contractors and suppliers
7
Want to be a Quantity Surveyor?
Why ?
A valuable profession
Excellent professional status
A worldwide profession, may work in mainland China and other countries
A stable occupation, demand persistently exceeds supply, plenty of job opportunities
Respectable salary
Interesting and diversified work
+
Office-based work + outdoor inspection
Suits both men and women
A Stable Occupation
Construction is always required
When the market of new construction declines, there will be more maintenance,
repair, renovation and revitalization projects
When the overall economy declines, the Government will drive infrastructure
projects to boost the economy
At the same time, appointments for dispute resolutions may increase
When there are fewer new projects, there are still final accounts to settle
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Want to be a Quantity Surveyor?
:
You basically need to:
Possess good characters
Like to participate in the creation and preservation of a good built-environment
Possess good language skills
Be good at handling data and information (advanced mathematics not required)
Pay attention to details, have patience
Perceive 3-dimensional objects (artistic design skills not required)
Possess good interpersonal communication skills
***
Academic institutions providing relevant programmes are:
The University of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
City University of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education
Other universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada
9
:
The quickest path to become a professional quantity surveyor
* might attempt within same year or separately in any order, not necessary to pass Part I before Part II
Other cases:
Holders of relevant associate degrees or higher diplomas would need longer period
of on-job training and continued learning
People engaged in quantity surveying practice but not yet qualified as a professional
quantity surveyor belong to the technical grade, but those experienced may reach
senior positions
10
Quantity surveyors in the eyes of other professionals
Professor Bernard V. Lim, JP
, 2005-06
- Professor (Fractional Appointment), School of Architecture , the Chinese University
of Hong Kong
- Past President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) 2005-2006
- Principal, AD+RG Architecture Design and Research Group Ltd.
Dr. Lo Wing-lok, Medical doctor
,
Mr. Paul Chan
2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14
2004-2005
Sr Cheung Tat Tong HKIS Past President 2004-2005
In my final year examination at the HKU, the external examiner asked : Mr. Cheung, can you tell me
how measurement affects you before and after you have studied this subject?
My response was: before I see a building, now I only see its components.
A successful QS should have a good analytical mind, good memory, leadership ability and an EQ to
cope with deadlines. Through our professional training, we are able to visualize the important cost
elements of any project and thus play a very important role in the development of a project.
The outlook of the local construction industry will continue to boom in the next decade. QS services
are in high demand in building works, infrastructure works and E&M works. I also see very good
potentials for QSs to become arbitrators, mediators, adjudicators, construction auditors and expert
witnesses. For whatever we are going to do, we need to pay attention to the details.
Sr Joanna Kwok
Joanna Joanna
Joanna
Joanna was a contractor quantity surveyor. She works on site every week. She likes going to
site because every construction project is unique and she can learn from different construction
professionals.
Drawings are only conceptual. Only by going to site can I understand how each construction
sequence is carried out, such as how reinforcement bars are bended and how the whole building is
built. This is helpful for us as quantity surveyors in estimating the construction cost." Joanna believes
that the work of quantity surveyors can be varied and girls can choose their interested area to develop.
"In fact, many sites are neat and tidy. Now that construction safety is of high priority and girls working
on site is not a problem."
2010
,
Sr Gerberta Lee Yan Sin, HKU Surveying Graduate 2010, currently a qualified quantity surveyor
working in a QS consultant firm
Three years ago, I applied to be a QS assistant in a consultancy firm once graduated from the
University of Hong Kong. With the guidance of all friendly experienced peers, now I am a qualified
member of HKIS. To me, quantity surveyor is not merely a job title but a life-long commitment and
contribution to the entire construction industry.
Many people have been under the impression that the job nature of a quantity surveyor is very boring,
which mainly focus on bulky paper work. But I can tell you the fact is I am facing challenging tasks
and cooperate with different construction professionals day-to-day! It is not easy to strive a balance
of conflicting interests between all the related parties. Being a competent surveyor, we have to devote
our best to make it happen by offering neutral professional judgment.
Undoubtedly, quantity surveying is an essential profession in the construction industry which can never
be easily replaced by others. With increasing infrastructure and housing demand in both private and
public sector in Hong Kong and Mainland China, it is believed that the demand for quantity surveyor
will be keep on increasing and hence, giving the profession a bright, valuable and promising future.
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Words from Surveying Students
Tai Chun Chung, Travis
(2013-2014)
Hong Kong Polytechnic University Surveying Year 2 Student (2013-2014)
I choose surveying because of the following reasons. First, because of the establishment of the 10-mega
projects, construction is always required as the demand persistently exceeds supply. Second, there is
a variety of job choices, for example, consultant, developer and contractor. Besides, it is a stable and
professional occupation with respectable salary. The job nature of quantity surveyors is diversified, also,
comprehensive training is provided. Being a quantity surveyor is absolutely a good choice for people who are
keen on having a wide range of work.
QSD Scholarship Scheme
The Quantity Surveying Division (QSD) of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) considers that
attracting new blood joining the quantity surveying profession should be the only way to make this
profession sustainable. The QSD therefore hopes to join hands with the leaders in the construction
industry to establish a scholarship scheme in order to foster closer connection between the students and
the construction industry, and encourage them joining the quantity surveying profession in future. The
first QSD scholarship scheme has been launched since 2011. There will be a maximum of 18 number of
awards, 3 max. for each of the degree/ diploma course below:
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Career Opportunities of Quantity Surveyors outside Hong Kong
CEPA
2008 12 65 ( )
CEPA
( )
2010 11 166
144
Quantity surveyors from Hong Kong are well received in Mainland China and also overseas. As
there are growing number of real estate projects, coupled with the recognition of the advantage
of hiring Hong Kong quantity surveyors for coordinating the tenders, contract arrangement and
cost control for the local developers, the demand for Hong Kong quantity surveyors continued
to rise in Mainland China.
Under CEPA, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and China Engineering Cost Association
(CECA) of the Mainland has signed a mutual recognition agreement, so that our quantity
surveyors can easily enter the Mainland market.
In December 2008, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors presented to 65 members the seals
and registration certificates of Mainland Registered Cost Engineers. They are the first batch of
registered professionals in Mainland successfully arranged under the CEPA arrangement.
In November 2010, a total of 166 HKIS members obtained the Mainland Cost Engineer
Qualification Certificate under the 2nd batch of assessment of qualification. This could facilitate
further career development of the QSD members in the Mainland. As at today, 144 members
of QSD have been successfully registered in Mainland as Registered Cost Engineer [RCE(PRC)].
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International Recognition
The Institute has signed multiple reciprocity agreements with quantity surveying institutes of
different countries to mutually recognize each others professional memberships. In addition,
the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors is also a member of international organizations. The
following are some of the professional bodies overseas with which the Quantity Surveying
Division has entered into reciprocal agreements.
Singapore Institute of
Surveyors and Valuers
China Engineering Cost Association Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers
Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors Building Surveyors Institute of Japan
Chartered Institution of Civil
Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors Engineering Surveyors
The Institute is a member of the following international organisations:
The Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC)
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Disclaimer
This brochure is for general reference only. Users of this brochure should not rely on the information as professional
or legal advice of the surveying profession.
QUANTITY SURVEYING DIVISION
111 12 1205
Room 1205, 12/F, Wing On Centre, 111 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.