Building surveyors in demand as HK gets cracking on urban renewal projects

The tragic collapse of a To Kwa Wan building in January 2011 has triggered debate on building maintenance and safety, leading to calls for building surveyors who can take charge of building redesign and renovation.

Indeed, Arthur Cheung, associate director at Ample Surveyor Services, anticipates bright prospects for the sector as the number of infrastructure and urban renewal projects in Hong Kong grows.

'There are plenty of career options. The Housing Authority, Urban Renewal Authority, surveyor firms, developers, project management companies and building consultant firms are all seeking surveyors,' he says.

To work as a surveyor, one needs a degree in surveying. Local universities such as the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Hong Kong offer relevant programmes.

The first rung on the career ladder is assistant building surveyor. After two years of work experience, and completion of the Assessment of Professional Competence by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, a surveyor will become a member of the institute, the industry's accreditation body. With another year, a surveyor can become a registered professional surveyor.

Newly hired assistant building surveyors mainly work on operational duties such as on-site surveying and writing reports. After gaining professional qualifications, they can become a building surveyor, meeting with clients and contractors.