Guangdong-Hong Kong MiC Week Launches to Promote Modular Integrated Construction Advancements and Industry Collaboration.

2025-06-23 22:48 Last Updated At：23:08

Guangdong and Hong Kong jointly promote Modular Integrated Construction development

Jointly organised by the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province (DHURDGP), the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) Week is being held in Guangdong and Hong Kong from today (June 23) to June 28. It features a series of activities in both places, enabling the public to learn about the latest development of MiC and providing a platform for the industry to exchange relevant knowledge and experience to promote a wider adoption of MiC.

Click to Gallery

Guangdong and Hong Kong jointly promote Modular Integrated Construction development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

More Images

Guangdong and Hong Kong jointly promote Modular Integrated Construction development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi), the Construction Industry Council (CIC), the MiC Laboratory of The University of Hong Kong, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Modular Integrated Construction Industry Alliance (Alliance) are co-organisers of the MiC Week.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been actively promoting the adoption of MiC to enhance the productivity and cost-effectiveness of the construction industry. As of now, over 100 government and private projects have adopted this advanced construction method. She said that the HKSAR Government is implementing a series of measures to strengthen the supply chain of MiC, including the release of the Guangdong-Hong Kong Modular Integrated Construction Cross-boundary Trading Guidebook, the accreditation of MiC manufacturers, the announcement of the MiC Annual Demand Forecast and the enhancement of relevant training on MiC, as well as the research and development of new technologies. Among which, the DEVB plans to announce a new requirement for public works projects later this year to require MiC manufacturers to be accredited before bidding for tenders of relevant projects, with a view to streamlining the vetting and approval process and ensuring quality. She said that the Guangdong Province is the main manufacturing base for MiC modules in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), while Hong Kong possesses advantages in research and development as well as overseas promotion. The DEVB will continue to work closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government to build the GBA into a MiC technology and construction hub, and promote MiC to become a new quality productive force and a strategic industry that expands to the international arena.

The Director-General of the DHURDGP, Mr Zhang Yong, said in his speech that high-quality and reliable MiC products from Guangdong have been gradually applied in various projects in Hong Kong including office buildings, school dormitories, public housing and private buildings, making positive contributions to the urban development and the security of people’s livelihoods in Hong Kong. From January to May this year, Guangdong exported MiC modules with a total value of about $1.39 billion to Hong Kong, a year-on-year increase of 2.3 times, demonstrating strong technical and supply capabilities. Building on the development of a supply chain that fully supports Hong Kong, Guangdong has also progressively developed application scenarios such as schools, hospitals and talent accommodation, and explored MiC technology innovations for projects including super-high-rise buildings and in-situ redevelopment, advancing pilot modular projects for urban development.

The unveiling ceremony of the Alliance was also held during the launching ceremony. With membership comprising industry associations, higher education institutions, research institutes, enterprises, experts and scholars from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the Alliance aims to promote the development of MiC in the GBA, aligning with the national strategies of high-quality development and green building.

In addition, the Guangdong-Hong Kong Modular Integrated Construction Cross-boundary Trading Guidebook compiled by the DEVB was also released at the launching ceremony. The guidebook provides manufacturers with guidelines on application for bonded processing trade arrangements for MiC materials and cross-boundary tax declarations for exporting MiC modules to Hong Kong, enabling all parties in the MiC supply chain in the GBA to conduct MiC cross-boundary trade more conveniently and efficiently.

The Chairperson of the BTRi, Mr Hon Chi-keung, also presented accreditation certificates to the first batch of eight manufacturers accredited under the MiC Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme at the launching ceremony. All manufacturers accredited under the scheme have passed stringent review by the BTRi and its assessment panel. The scheme can enhance the industry’s confidence in MiC quality, help strengthen the MiC supply chain and meet the growing demand for local MiC projects.

The Chairman of the CIC, Professor Thomas Ho, also announced the first MiC Annual Demand Forecast jointly published by the DEVB and the CIC at the launching ceremony to help the industry plan ahead and invest in production capacity in order to meet demand.

The launching ceremony attracted over 1 000 participants who took part both online and offline. Other activities of the MiC Week include International Conference on Modular Integrated Construction, an enterprise forum, a design workshop, a site visit to a MiC project, a guided tour for public and more. Details are available on its website.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Guangdong-Hong Kong MiC Week Launches to Promote Modular Integrated Construction Advancements and Industry Collaboration.

HK