According to The Standard, Architects are urging the government to increase consultancy contracts and restart delayed projects, warning that their profession is on the brink of collapse. In a letter to Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, Association of Architectural Practice chairman Dennis Lau Wing-kwong highlighted the severe challenges facing architects since the pandemic.
Lau noted that despite the removal of property cooling measures, the market remains cautious, with very few private housing projects in development. Additionally, job opportunities from mainland projects, once a vital source of business, have nearly vanished, leading to layoffs across the industry. He warned that the profession is “at the tipping point of survival.”
Benny Chan Chak-bun, head of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, expressed uncertainty about whether the industry can endure without government support, noting that the broader construction sector could also suffer. Chan called for government intervention, including the development of public facilities like elderly care homes and recreation centers.
However, Andrew Lam Siu-lo, deputy chairman of the Legislative Council’s development panel, cautioned that pushing single projects might not be effective, suggesting instead that the government consider broader economic measures to support the industry.
Source: The Standard
