AIA Hong Kong

2017 4th Quarter President’s Message


Dear Members & Friends:

As the year is coming to an end, the Chapter has also completed our final 3 programs in 2017 in the month of December.  These include: a sold-out building tour to Mount Pavilia, a lecture by New York based award winning architect Dr. Carol Bentel, FAIA, and our Young Architects Group’s sketching workshop with college and primary school students.  These activities provide an excellent snapshot to the work of the Chapter this year.

We are proud to have strong member participation and attendance in this year’s programs.  Also we have continued to work closely with our Corporate Affiliates such as AHEC in the case of Dr. Bentel’s lecture.  Our Chapter is also well represented with my presence in Beijing to attend IR’s sister event there, demonstrating solid support to AIA International Region throughout the year.  Finally, we have continued to nurture our young architects’ leadership and promote architecture to the community.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, we have also successfully executed 3 of our Chapter’s major activities this year: Annual Meeting, Honors & Awards Program and 20th Anniversary Cocktail Reception.  For the first time in the Chapter’s history, we have organized an Annual Meeting according to the standard established in our by-law.  Members received 2017 EXCO and Financial Reports, and elected Officers for 2018 EXCO.  Congratulations to our President-Elect, Anderson Lee, AIA, and his excellent team.  We have also organized an exhibition and ceremony to honor the 13 winners of this year’s Honors & Awards Program.  We thank our distinguish panel of judges as well as committee leaders and members for their contribution.

Finally, we have celebrated our Chapter’s 20th Anniversary with a special cocktail reception event at PMQ.  Officiated by Mr Wong Kam-sing, GBS, JP, Secretary for the Environment, the event’s principal guests also include the Presidents of Hong Kong Institute of Architect, Royal Institute of British Architects Hong Kong Chapter, Hong Kong Institute of Planners and Hong Kong Construction Association amongst others.  We thank the participation of many of our Past Presidents, Honorary Members and Fellows of the Institute.

Thank you all for your kind support throughout the year.  Most importantly, thank you for your participation and engagement.  It is indeed a challenging task to lead the Chapter, especially with my executive role in running several business operations in Hong Kong and elsewhere at the same time.  As I have mentioned in my speech during the anniversary reception, I am both the first young architect to have served as President of the Chapter, and the longest serving EXCO member after serving a sixth term next year, as Immediate Past President.  I sincerely wish you will share my commitment and dedication to the Chapter and work together to bring the Chapter to new heights.  I am certain the best is yet to come.  Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season!

 

Rex Wong, AIA

2017 President

Represented AIA Hong Kong at the 2017 World Cities Day Forum in Guangzhou organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)