Bastille's Story｜From Sierra Leone to Hong Kong: How a Foreign Engineer Puts Down Roots in His Second Home

Originally from Sierra Leone, a Belt and Road country, engineer Fakeh Moses has steadily forged his own path in Hong Kong, a city he now calls his second home. With solid professional expertise, he has contributed his technical skills to multiple infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, witnessing the city's growth and transformation through his dedication and hard work. Beyond his professional duties, Moses also volunteers as a mentor in the HKSAR Government's Strive and Rise Programme, where he listens to, accompanies, and helps ethnic minority youth from underprivileged backgrounds overcome daily challenges, encouraging them to face life with a positive attitude. For his contributions, the HKSAR Government presented Moses with the Active Participation Award under the Programme.

Fakeh Moses, Photo by Bastille Post

Moses, who is currently doing his part in constructing Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, told the Bastille Post that Hong Kong has become his “second home.” Over the years, he has felt the city’s resilience and vitality in its relentless pursuit of development. Looking ahead, he hopes to bring this momentum back to his hometown, Sierra Leone, inspiring more local young people to strive forward.

Craftsmanship in Projects, Expertise through Practice

Fakeh Moses studied engineering at a Mainland Chinese university before joining China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited (CSHK) in 2017. He has since contributed to a range of local infrastructure projects, including the Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant, the Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel, and the Central - Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel. His performance earned him the corporation's recognition and an overseas posting to India and Dubai, where he helped deepen CSHK's international business footprint.

Recalling his past experiences, Moses said one Chinese New Year holiday stood out. To maintain project progress, he gave up time with his family and stayed on site with colleagues to overcome scheduling pressures. Although the extra work cost him a festive reunion, he felt deeply gratified watching the plans on paper take shape in a short time. "That was something I was pleased to do," he said. "It was an honor, and I wanted to make a contribution, so I was willing to do that."

Beyond his frontline efforts, Moses also actively absorbed management and coordination experience, turning each task into a driving factor of professional growth. Photo by Bastille Post

Beyond his frontline efforts, Moses also actively absorbed management and coordination experience, turning each task into a driving factor of professional growth. During his time in India and Dubai, he handled contract coordination for projects including the Hyderabad International Airport – Passenger Terminal Building, Dubai Sport City, and Dubai Mall Hotel, working closely with local partners to ensure contract terms could be accurately implemented.

In Moses' view, these overseas experiences not only broadened his project management perspective and exposed him to different market environments and industry standards, but also laid a solid foundation for his subsequent return to Hong Kong as a Senior Contract Manager. He noted that working across cultures helped him adapt to different market rules, respond flexibly, as well as communicate and coordinate more effectively, balancing the interests of all parties with project goals.

The Hyderabad International Airport – Passenger Terminal Building, Photo source: CSHK

Dubai Sport City, Photo source: CSHK

As an engineer by training, Moses initially focused on technical details and construction quality, prioritising how to build projects more solidly and safely. But after transitioning to contract manager, he gradually developed a holistic mindset, learning to integrate cost control and risk management into the interests of all stakeholders. "You need to know how to coordinate different parties' needs and expectations to ensure rational allocation of project funds." This taught him that the goal of an engineering project is not just to build well, but to spend funds wisely, finding a balance between quality and economic efficiency, coordinating diverse demands, and ensuring projects deliver both quality and cost-effectiveness.

For Moses, a construction project is not merely about building well; it is also about spending funds where they can deliver the greatest value. Photo by Bastille Post

In the Name of Mentorship, Lighting Up Young Lives Through Companionship

Outside of work, Moses actively dedicates his spare time to volunteer service in Hong Kong, extending care to young people around him. With CSHK's support, he signed up for the HKSAR Government's Strive and Rise Programme, serving as a mentor to ethnic minority youth from underprivileged backgrounds. He listens to the challenges they face in daily life and encourages them to embrace life with a positive attitude.

CSHK actively encourages the employees to participate in the Strive and Rise Programme. Photo source: CSHK

Moses shared a heartwarming story. He recounted that the mother of one programme participant once called him when her child was experiencing psychological distress, hoping he could promptly reach out to the child and help relieve the pressure. Moses was deeply moved that the parent thought of him when her child needed help most. Even though he is not a professional psychological counsellor, his willingness to accompany the children and listen to their concerns led parents to see him as someone they could rely on, a trust he considers a treasured responsibility.

It was this sincere dedication, the support and companionship he offered to the youth, that earned Moses recognition from the HKSAR Government. In December 2025, he was presented with the Active Participation Award by Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr. Chan Kwok-ki, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to volunteer service.

In December 2025, Moses (third from right, front row) was presented with the Active Participation Award by Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr. Chan Kwok-ki, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to volunteer service. Photo source: CSHK

Moses was delighted by the unexpected honour. "What I do is just small things, not very big. It's nothing like rocket science. It's just a little bit of kindness, a little bit of help and a little bit of my time." He expressed deep gratitude for the Government's recognition and thanked CSHK for providing him the opportunity to join the programme, enabling him to contribute to society despite his busy work schedule.

He noted that CSHK strongly supports employees in volunteering and provides volunteer leave, allowing staff to serve the community. This has given colleagues greater motivation to spread warmth throughout society. Moses said he will continue to fulfil his role as a mentor, hoping to accompany more children and light the way forward for young people in need.

Moses noted that CSHK strongly supports employees in volunteering and provides volunteer leave, allowing staff to serve the community. Photo source: CSHK

CSHK staff actively take part in volunteer service, sharing warmth with those in need. Photo source: CSHK

Building the Northern Metropolis Transport Hub, Hoping to Give Back to Hometown Youth

In the "Improvement Works of Fanling Highway (Kwu Tung Portion) and Associated Works" project currently undertaken by CSHK, Moses is responsible for negotiating various related contracts to ensure the project progresses steadily within the contractual framework. As a Senior Contract Manager, he not only balances the interests of all parties, effectively controls costs and maximises the value of funds, but also contributes to the development of the Northern Metropolis.

The planning schematic of the "Improvement Works of Fanling Highway (Kwu Tung Portion) and Associated Works" project, Photo by Bastille Post

The construction site of the "Improvement Works of Fanling Highway (Kwu Tung Portion) and Associated Works" project, Photo by Bastille Post

"My job is like being a guide, enabling my colleagues to steadily advance construction progress and effectively mitigate potential risks," Moses said. He noted that the Kwu Tung Portion of Fanling Highway is located in the core area of the Kwu Tung North New Development Area and plays a critical strategic role in the future transport network of the Northern Metropolis. For him, every coordination of funds and every finalisation of a contract lays the foundation for the transport network of the Northern Metropolis, giving him greater motivation and a sense of mission, as he hopes to gradually witness the grand vision of the Northern Metropolis move from blueprint to reality.

With Moses and his team members working hand in hand to advance the project, the travel blueprint for Northern Metropolis residents is gradually becoming a reality. Photo by Bastille Post

Asked about his expectations for the Northern Metropolis's development, Moses said it can inject strong momentum into Hong Kong's future development, effectively bringing more research, entrepreneurship and job opportunities to the city, enabling more overseas talents who harbour dreams like him to realise their personal value in Hong Kong through their professional knowledge and experience, making the city's development ever more prosperous. He is full of confidence in the Northern Metropolis's future development and looks forward to more talents from around the world converging in the area, driving it to become a new engine for Hong Kong's future economic growth.

Moses and his teammates will conduct on-site inspections to monitor the project's progress. Photo by Bastille Post

The Northern Metropolis, Photo source: reference image

Looking ahead, Moses hopes to have the opportunity to give back what he has gained in Hong Kong to his hometown, Sierra Leone, inspiring more local young people to strive forward. He particularly mentioned that Hong Kong's resilience and vitality in its relentless pursuit of development are key factors enabling the city to stand out on the international stage.

In his view, Hong Kong is a city that changes with each passing day and progresses constantly. The current construction momentum of the Northern Metropolis is precisely a manifestation of this innovative spirit. To gain an advantage in future development, one should learn to advance with the times and pursue continuous innovation. He hopes this will not only drive his own continuous growth, but also inspire more young people in Sierra Leone to be proactive and strive to become better versions of themselves.

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port

The redeveloped Huanggang Port will open at 6.30am tomorrow (October 12). The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the opening ceremony at the Mainland Port Area of the Huanggang Port today (October 11) alongside the Director of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, Mr Huang Chuping; the Standing Committee Member of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mr Jin Lei; the Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Li Yun; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Luo Yonggang; the Director General of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, Ms Zhang Geping; the Director of Bureau III of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zou Jinsong; and the Deputy Director of the Department of Border Security Check of the National Immigration Administration, Ms Mo Haiying.

The National 15th Five-Year Plan proposed consolidating and enhancing the role of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an engine for high-quality development, as well as strengthening regional infrastructure connectivity. The redevelopment of the Huanggang Port signifies the proactive alignment of the HKSAR Government with national development strategies, representing a key project through which Hong Kong actively integrates into and serves the overall national development. The Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan announced by the HKSAR Government last month explicitly set out to leverage the strengths of the redeveloped Huanggang Port, implement the co-location arrangement, and adopt the novel "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode. The official opening of the Huanggang Port signifies a major milestone achieved by Hong Kong and Shenzhen in enhancing the layout of boundary control points, and improving clearance efficiency, and facilitating cross-boundary flow of people.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said that the Huanggang Port redevelopment project is a landmark undertaking built upon the close partnership and concerted efforts between Hong Kong and Shenzhen for joint contribution and shared benefits. The official opening of the redeveloped port reflects that connectivity within the Greater Bay Area has reached a new height, serving as a faithful demonstration promoting "hard connectivity" in infrastructure, fostering "soft connectivity" of rules and mechanisms, and achieving "connectivity of hearts" between the residents of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The redeveloped Huanggang Port is positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The design flow of the redeveloped Huanggang Port is 200 000 passenger trips per day, and could be further increased to about 300 000 upon the future commissioning of the Northern Link Spur Line of the MTR Corporation Limited. With the staunch support of the Central Authorities, the Huanggang Port implements the co-location arrangement with clearly delineated Hong Kong Port Area and Mainland Port Area. The Huanggang Port is also the first land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen adopting the "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" mode, further enhancing passenger clearance experience and efficiency. Under this new clearance mode, clearance time will be significantly reduced from around 30 minutes at the original Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port, to approximately five minutes.

The 23rd Meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) passed the decision to authorise the HKSAR to exercise jurisdiction over the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas (Hong Kong Port Area) on June 26 this year. Subsequently, the State Council issued an Official Reply on July 8, stipulating the specific co-ordinates and area of the Hong Kong Port Area, and agreeing that the Hong Kong Port Area is to be commissioned beginning at 00.00 hours of July 31, 2026, and is to be subject to the jurisdiction of the HKSAR in accordance with the laws of the HKSAR. The Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance (Cap. 659), together with the relevant subsidiary legislation, came into operation on July 31.

Since the establishment of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area on July 31, the HKSAR Government has been pressing ahead at full steam with the various preparatory tasks for the opening of the port, including conducting drills and tests of various scales, as well as continuously enhancing detailed arrangements to prepare comprehensively for the opening of the port. Having confirmed that the port is ready for safe, smooth and efficient operation, Hong Kong and Shenzhen issued a joint statement on October 9, announcing that the redeveloped Huanggang Port will officially open at 6.30am of October 12, 2026, providing 24-hour clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles.

Officials of the HKSAR Government attending the ceremony included the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Miss Janice Tse; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE attends opening ceremony of Huanggang Port Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases