This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF). Since its establishment, we have overcome numerous challenges and remained proactive and innovative while staying true to our aspiration in putting service quality as the top priority. As a professional electrical and mechanical (E&M) service provider, we strive to stay committed and work in concert with our clients to ride out the difficult times and provide quality public services to the community. Thanks to the continuous efforts of the EMSTF team, as well as the trust and support of our clients, the business of the EMSTF has been on a steady rise throughout the years, earning high recognition from the trade and the public alike.
Officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr. John Lee, and the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr. Pang Yiu-hung, the 25th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the EMSTF was held successfully at the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) Headquarters on 11 August 2021. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Lee said that the EMSTF had always been committed to providing quality E&M services, keeping abreast of the development of innovation and technology (I&T), enhancing the quality of life for the public, and setting a good example for the E&M trade. In delivering his speech, Mr. Pang pointed out that having transformed from a traditional government department into an E&M service provider facing open market competition, the EMSTF had been operating its business with agility and creativity. It also proactively supported various smart city initiatives, bringing benefits and convenience to the public.
Also attending the ceremony were the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr. Ye Shuiqiu; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr. Wong Kam-sing; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr. Frank Chan; the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr. Alfred Sit; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr. Lam Sai-hung; the Under Secretary for Development, Mr. Liu Chun-san, and heads and representatives of various government departments and public bodies as well as trade representatives.
“Co-innovate and Co-create Our Future”, the anniversary theme, represents Collaboration, Innovation, Passing on Legacies and Looking Forward. “Collaboration” indicates that the EMSTF will always stand by Hong Kong and its clients, even in the face of adverse condition and the epidemic, with full dedication to provide E&M support. As the Innovation Facilitator for the Government, the EMSTF will continue to promote “Innovation” and technology and serve as the strategic partner in I&T promotion with signed memoranda of co-operation with local universities and research institutions. On “Passing on Legacies”, the EMSD has trained for the trade over 6 000 E&M practitioners and encouraged them to participate in international competitions so as to enhance the standard of E&M services in Hong Kong and strengthen technical exchange with our counterparts. “Looking Forward”, the EMSTF will continue to forge ahead with agility and creativity, and adhere to the customer-oriented approach. It will also proactively introduce innovative technologies into the E&M services, upgrade the equipment and system, and collaborate with partners to create public values. The EMSTF will strive ahead together with its staff, clients, members of the trade and other stakeholders, passing on its wisdom and culture while unlocking unlimited possibilities for the future, thereby scaling new heights.
At the ceremony, we also launched the Global AI Challenge for Building E&M Facilities, an event jointly organised by the EMSD and the Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology for the first time, with the support of the Innovation and Technology Bureau and the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the China Association for Science and Technology. This event aims to encourage the E&M trade to adopt more artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, inspire participants to develop more AI solutions and promote the application of semantic AI in the E&M systems of existing buildings through a series of activities such as AI competition, global conferences and workshops.
Participating teams of the AI competition are required to develop an AI model to predict the cooling demand of buildings. We hope to foster communication between the participants, members of the trade and researchers through this event.
The AI competition is open for application from 16 September 2021. AI enthusiasts across the globe are welcome to participate in the event. For details of the Global AI Challenge for Building E&M Facilities, please visit http://www.globalaichallenge.com
On the same day, our guests also witnessed the opening of the E&M InnoFoyer. Established at the lobby on the ground floor of the EMSD Headquarters, the E&M InnoFoyer showcases to the public a series of E&M-related I&T projects, including the Internet of Things (IoT)-Enabled Smart Toilet Bowl Cleaning System, the Artificial Intelligent Nylon Optical Fibre Sensing Escalator Combs, the Building Semantic Artificial Intelligence, the Cloud-based Predictive Maintenance System for Real-Time Lift Monitoring, smart glasses, IoT clocks, etc. It enables our clients, the trade and the public to gain a better understanding of the EMSD’s work in promoting I&T applications, and shares with them the results of the EMSD’s ongoing efforts in this respect. Moreover, the E&M InnoFoyer displays the I&T awards and recognitions that the EMSD obtained in recent years.
The EMSD reaped bounteous rewards in the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Innovation Award 2020 and 2021, including the Young Member Group Category I - An Invention (Certificate of Merit) for the Development of Smart Prison in Hong Kong-Passage Surveillance and Health Signs Monitoring System, Category II - An Innovative Application of Engineering Theories (Certificate of Merit) for Development of Predictive Maintenance of Lifts Using Optical Fibre Sensing Technology in 2020, and Category II - An Innovative Application of Engineering Theories (Certificate of Merit) for Video Analytics Monitoring System for Abnormal Behaviours Detection in 2021. These awards have once again exemplified our promising achievements in I&T.
The smart prison project utilises smart wristbands to monitor the real-time location of persons in custody (PICs), thereby enhancing the level of security within the prison. The Health Signs Monitoring System helps measure the heart rates of PICs to monitor their health conditions. The Video Analytics Monitoring System provides real-time detection of irregularities of PICs, enabling correctional staff to deal with sudden incidents more promptly. Besides, the use of optical fibre sensing technology can monitor the operational condition of the parts of lifts in real time, formulating a predictive maintenance solution to enhance maintenance efficiency and quality.
Since last year, the EMSD has started replacing chillers at Queensway Government Offices. Using eco-friendly new-generation refrigerant, the new chillers not only greatly reduce the global warming potential, but also lower carbon emission and save energy consumption. The chillers are awarded Platinum certification in the CIC Green Product Certification Scheme, proven to enhance energy efficiency. Besides, the EMSD, the Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited, and the supplier of chiller equipment published a joint paper regarding this project, which was awarded the ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Technology Award 2021, a recognition to appreciate ASHRAE members whose innovative technological concepts are applicable and highlight their technological achievements to societies worldwide and across professionals.
We are glad to receive positive feedback for this project from the Government Property Agency, who expressed that the EMSD provided high-quality technical input, professional advice, and comprehensive assistance in the replacement work of air-conditioning systems in existing government properties in phases, reducing electricity consumption effectively, and increasing energy efficiency of existing buildings.
The EMSD spares no efforts in promoting the development of innovation and technology. At the Leading Towards Robotics Technologies Innovation Competition Award Presentation Ceremony, organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer on 28 July this year, the EMSD was presented with five awards, including the Grand Award, First runner-up and three Merit Awards. The Grand Award project is the Robotics-enabled Public Services on Toilet Bowl Cleaning Application, the First runner-up project is the Application of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Technologies for Smart Warehouse, the three Merit Awards are Integrated Smart Robot Assistant for Building IoT network, Robotic Cleaning and Disinfection System with Video Analytics and Robotic Arm, and Robotic Steam Boiler Tube Cleaning and Inspection System. The aim of the competition is to connect public services with the adoption of robotics technologies. Through arranging proof-ofconcept testing for the proposals and field tests to expedite the adoption of technologies in various government departments, public services will be enhanced and thus accelerating the development of Smart Government.
The EMSD plays a leading role in driving smart city development by leveraging I&T to construct a smart warehouse with automated stock handling process to manage warehouse resources more effectively and provide a safe working environment for its staff.
The first of its kind in the Government, our smart warehouse integrated the application of automated guided vehicle (AGV), robot control system, warehouse management system and e-locker with a four-in-one approach. In the past, stock keepers had to transport stocks from the racks. In the new warehouse, this job will be handled by four AGVs, which will automatically sort out the shortest route to transport the racks from the “no man zone” to the workstation. The stock keepers will place the required products into the boxes, which will then be put into the e-locker for collection. The system is equipped with a self-learning feature that can arrange racks with frequent retrieval to be placed closer to the workstation. It can also handle dozens of orders simultaneously, enhancing work efficiency. Using the AGVs can reduce the staff’s manual labour work, minimise the number of walkways in the warehouse and increase storage capacity. Colleagues from different divisions can submit orders through the computer system. When the products are available for pick up, the system will automatically send SMS messages to notify the relevant units to collect the parcels from the e-locker. From order submission to product collection, the fully digitalised workflow can bring more convenience to the users.
The smart warehouse project was conceived, implemented and completed in about a year's time with the concerted efforts of our colleagues, despite technical and spatial constraints. While piloted at the EMSD Headquarters as a demonstration of public sector reforming, the project also won the First runner-up in the Leading Towards Robotics Technologies Innovation Competition. The EMSD will continue to serve as the Innovation Facilitator and keep up our innovation promotion work to press ahead with I&T development in conjunction with all relevant parties.
Please visit the website at https://bit.ly/3nZNOlI, to watch the video and learn more about the application of the smart warehouse project.
Proper vaccine storage is crucial to help deliver on the Government’s commitment to provide high-quality vaccination service to the public. To this end, the EMSD has provided appropriate solutions to various Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs). Our team has promptly designed and developed an integrated Fridge Monitoring System (iFMS) to facilitate real-time remote monitoring of medical fridges, giving the public assurance that vaccines are stored in a suitable environment during the vaccination programme. Since the setting up of the CVCs, the monitoring system has been operating 24 hours a day, providing real-time information to multiple parties at all times and its performance has been well recognised.
The iFMS adopts the Narrow-Band Internet of Things technology, which makes use of the readily available mobile network infrastructure in Hong Kong for real-time wireless communication. The system can simultaneously monitor the operation of various vaccination centres and their associated facilities across the territory, such as monitoring the temperature of the medical fridges and their fault signals, providing real-time information on the room temperature and the power supply system of the CVCs. The system will also send out messages when necessary to inform the relevant departments for timely action. The community vaccine command centre, the EMSD Customer Service Centre and the Regional Digital Control Centre are responsible for receiving and monitoring the data, as well as providing information on emergency response procedures, sending alert messages and contact persons to the officers-in-charge at the same time.
With only one to two months from the establishment of the vaccination centres to the implementation of the vaccination programme, the project was extremely challenging. Applying the Department’s experience in the design and operation of similar system, our team were able to overcome the challenge and successfully roll out the system as committed, enabling the proper storage of the vaccines.
In recent years, electric mobility devices (EMDs), such as electric scooters, electric unicycles, electric hoverboards, etc., are often used on roads in Hong Kong illegally, increasing the risk of accidents and posing threat to road safety.
To test the speed of EMDs, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Department of Justice worked together with the EMSD and successfully developed the first Electric Mobility Device Speed Tester. On 30 June this year, a launching ceremony for this invention was held at Tai Lam Chung Vehicle Examination Centre.
Under the current legislation, EMDs are regulated by motor vehicle-related ordinances. For cases involving EMDs, scientific evidence is required to prove the speed of the devices. However, since road tests take time and involve high costs and substantial manpower, law enforcement and prosecution departments will be put under great pressure in the long run. In view of the above, the EMSD worked closely with the relevant departments and completed the development for this project within a short period of time.
The speed tester adopted an automatic mechanical device with robotic arms to simulate the limbs of the testing personnel to control the acceleration, deceleration and braking movements of the EMDs. The speed tester can be used to substitute human testing, thereby reducing labour cost. It can also be used to test various models of EMDs to meet different testing needs. Furthermore, the speed tester will automatically generate reports with the relevant data, which can enhance the efficiency, save resources and costs, and expedite the entire process with a higher safety level.
Launched in June this year, the speed tester was praised by Mr. Ngai Chun-yip, Chief Inspector of Traffic Branch Headquarters, HKPF, for assisting the HKPF in conducting court-ordered road tests in the vehicle examination centre and providing related reports. Compared to the previous arrangements of engaging university researchers to conduct the tests, the speed tester greatly enhanced the efficiency of the HKPF in handling relevant cases.
The EMSD has been working closely with various branches of the HKPF to provide the best support in different aspects such as vehicle maintenance services, I&T solutions, etc.
Representatives from the HKPF visited the EMSD Headquarters in July to explore innovative ideas for applying to their existing buildings and buildings under planning. During the visit, EMSD colleagues shared their experience in promoting application of I&T, and introduced innovative projects such as smart lockers, robotic technology, Internet-of-Things system, Cave Automatic Virtual Environment system, holographic system, smart parking space sensing system and smart toilets.
The responses of the visitors from the HKPF were enthusiastic and positive. They were interested in many of the new technologies and believed that these technologies could be applied to the design of newly planned projects, and contribute to materialising the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0.
In April 2021, the EMSD organised a number of sharing sessions for a total of over 100 colleagues from various districts of the HKPF to exchange experience on vehicle maintenance, as well as providing a preview of the newly procured police vehicles. They also visited the E&M InnoZone and learned about the active role played by the EMSD in promoting the development of I&T in Hong Kong in recent years.
In addition, EMSD colleagues also introduced the newly launched Fault Call Attendance System, through which towing contractors could receive job requests and record their attendance information using mobile applications while clients could remotely check the relevant job status and records with ease.
As the cooling units of a District Cooling System (DCS) utilise seawater pumps to dissipate heat, the operation of the seawater pumps has a direct impact on the stability of the cooling system. In light of this, the EMSD installed a vibration monitoring system for the four seawater pumps of the DCS at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port to further enhance the operational reliability of the seawater pumps.
Each seawater pump is equipped with four sensors. In case any abnormal vibration is detected by the sensors, the EMSD or the contractors will be notified to take actions. The system is able to detect abnormalities in advance by monitoring the vibration frequency and amplitude, so that problems can be resolved at an early stage, thus reducing the risk of operational failure and realising predictive maintenance. In addition, manual operation is not involved in the entire sensing, data collection and frequency analysis process, saving human resources for carrying out inspection and maintenance, thereby reducing costs in the long run while maintaining the DCS safe and reliable.
Currently, some EMSD project contracts have already adopted the New Engineering Contract (NEC) mode. The NEC emphasises a win-win mode of co-operation and mutual benefits for creating more values for the clients. It enables more efficient contract management and reasonable sharing of risks between the Government and the contractors, with a view to achieving cost savings, early completion of projects and improved quality of contract deliverables. The new arrangement can also effectively reduce contractual disputes between the Government and the contractors.
The fourth edition of the NEC (NEC4) issued, with amendments in content, can further strengthen engineering project management. On 24 and 26 May, we organised two sharing sessions on the NEC. Colleagues, advisors and specialists from relevant departments who are familiar with the NEC4 were invited to share their experience and insights on the implementation of the new contract mode. Over 60 trade guests from eight E&M trade chambers/associations and 140 EMSD staff participated in the events.
This year, the EMSD together with the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Trade Promotion Working Group formed by 18 E&M engineering-related organisations, continued to promote the E&M industry to the younger generation by organising the E&M Expo 2021 at the Education & Careers Expo in July, under the theme of “Serving for City, Surfing for Life”. Our booth “Serving for City, Surfing for Life” consisting of seven display counters, provided information on the training and development, career prospects and career opportunities of various E&M industries through games, display boards and sharing by trade practitioners. Moreover, the Organiser featured the E&M Engineering as one of the Career Theme Days during the exhibition. On the E&M Theme Day, in addition to the honourable presence of Mr. Pang Yiu-hung, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr. Peter Lam, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited, was invited to deliver the opening remarks. A total of ten talks were organised by the Working Group, with training officers and trainees sharing insights on their training and work experience. The event received overwhelming response and attracted over 2000 visitors.
A virtual exhibition is also held online. Please visit the Facebook page of the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Trade Promotion Working Group at https://www.facebook.com/emengineering for more details of the virtual exhibition of the E&M Expo 2021.
In the 27th Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme jointly organised by the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council, four contracts supervised by the EMSD were commended with one Gold Award, one Silver Award and two Merit Awards. These accolades recognise the innovative ideas and commitment of the contractors and EMSD supervising teams, and demonstrate the effectiveness of our efforts in enhancing the occupational safety and health performance of contractors. Under these four contracts, maintenance and improvement works are provided for various client departments and venues, including the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Hospital Authority. In the award presentation ceremony held on 6 August, the EMSD senior management joined the winning contractors and EMSD supervising teams to share their joy of receiving the awards.
It has been a while since my partner, Knowbot, and I, Witty Bear, came to Earth from Planet No. 3 to serve as the EMSD’s ambassadors. During our mission, we discovered that there were numerous E&M-related equipment on Earth, involving deep and extensive knowledge about E&M safety, energy saving and environmental protection and innovative technologies. Therefore, we decided to learn from the earthmen to set up our Facebook and Instagram pages to share with adults and children various E&M knowledge and tips in a simple and interesting way.
Now like and follow the “Witty Bear” pages to keep abreast of our latest news. Also share the pages with your family and friends, so that we could make more new friends! We will continue to look into every nook and cranny to explore E&M safety and energysaving knowledge and news to share with you. Come join us now!
Please visit the websites https://bit.ly/2ZErQug and https://bit.ly/2Y4ApOw, to follow the “Witty Bear” Facebook and Instagram pages (@emsdwittybear)!