DEVB launches Hong Kong Edition of New Engineering Contract - Professional Service Contract
The Hong Kong Edition of the New Engineering Contract (NEC) - Professional Service Contract (PSC) was officially launched today (June 18, London time) at the NEC 2026 Annual Conference and Martin Barnes Awards Presentation Ceremony held in London, the United Kingdom. This is the third Hong Kong Edition of the NEC standard contract template released by the Development Bureau (DEVB), following its introduction of the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) and the Term Service Contract (TSC) in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Speaking at the NEC Annual Conference, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, said, "The official launch of the Hong Kong Edition of the NEC - PSC today extends the collaborative approach advocated by the NEC to various types of engineering professional services. This marks the availability of a complete set of localised NEC contract templates in Hong Kong, which will benefit the overall development of the local construction industry."
The PSC is applicable to the appointment of engineering consultants or professional service providers for work covering engineering feasibility studies, design, project management, contract administration, site supervision, etc. This new contract template complements those previously launched for the ECC and the TSC, allowing the NEC collaborative philosophy to be consistently implemented across all stages of project planning, design, construction and subsequent maintenance, thereby forming a comprehensive contract system that meets the needs of Hong Kong's construction industry and promotes its sustainable development.
The NEC form upholds the philosophy of collaborative partnering, incorporating contractual mechanisms such as early warning of risks, compensation and defined action timetables, allowing contractual issues to be resolved effectively and enhancing project performance. The DEVB introduced the NEC form to public works projects in 2009, and it has since been adopted in more than 850 public works contracts with a total value exceeding HK$550 billion. Public organisations such as the Airport Authority Hong Kong and the MTR Corporation Limited have also adopted this form of contract.
Separately, several NEC-based infrastructure projects of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) competed for the Martin Barnes Awards this year. Among the approximately 80 global entries, the CEDD won five awards (see Annex). Presented by the NEC Users' Group under the Institution of Civil Engineers of the United Kingdom, the awards recognise organisations and projects worldwide for their outstanding performance in adopting the NEC form.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) competed for the 2026 Martin Barnes Awards with several New Engineering Contract-based infrastructure projects and won five awards. Photo shows the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau (sixth left), with awardees and representatives of the CEDD at the awards presentation ceremony held today (June 18, London time) in London, the United Kingdom. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Hong Kong Edition of the New Engineering Contract (NEC) – Professional Service Contract was officially launched today (June 18, London time) at the NEC 2026 Annual Conference and Martin Barnes Awards Presentation Ceremony held in London, the United Kingdom. Photo shows the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau (second right); Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) Mr Tony Ho (first left); the Managing Director of the commercial arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers of the United Kingdom, Ms Andrea Naylor (second left); and the Chair of the NEC4 Contract Board, Mr Peter Higgins (first right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
