Former Transport Chief Chan Fan Takes Helm of Engineers Institution, Vows to Guide Youth Through AI Era
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
Chan Fan, who served as Secretary for Transport and Housing from 2017 to 2022, assumed the presidency of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers in June this year. The 68-year-old veteran engineer, who previously headed the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, outlined three core priorities for his one-year term: sustainable development, keeping pace with technological advancements, and deepening interaction with peers across borders. As climate change intensifies with record-breaking temperatures, Chan emphasized that reducing energy consumption and adopting green energy have become irreversible necessities. His extensive background in medical engineering, dating back to the 1980s when he led teams that equipped major hospitals including Prince of Wales Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital, positions him uniquely to guide Hong Kong's engineering profession into the AI era.
Key Points
- The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers will launch a three-year plan under Chan's leadership, with sustainable development as the primary focus for the first year
- Approximately 90% of Hong Kong's electricity consumption occurs in buildings, with over 50% of carbon emissions stemming from building-related power use such as air-conditioning systems
- Chan proposes establishing reference indicators for energy conservation and carbon reduction in offices, implementing systematic carbon footprint management across the sector
- He is considering adding new specializations to the Institution, potentially incorporating aerospace technology into the current aviation division or establishing it as a standalone discipline
- The Greater Bay Area Engineer Federation, where Chan serves as vice chairman, has identified AI application as a key agenda item, with regional experts developing application standards
- Chan recalls that when he first experimented with AI writing software in 2023, the output was rigid and lacked human touch, but the technology has since improved dramatically
- He recommends that the planned Sha Ling Data Park in the Northern Metropolis collaborate with mainland data clusters to serve as a national data window
- In 1982, Chan co-founded the Engineering and Medical Voluntary Work Association with university friends, aiming to improve living conditions for people with disabilities
- His engineering ambition was sparked during a 1976 scholarship trip to the United Kingdom aboard his first flight, when he observed the force lifting the aircraft and became curious about aviation principles
- As a child, Chan enjoyed disassembling objects to understand how they worked, once attempting to dry a waterlogged watch by a kerosene stove, which burst due to expanding steam
Why It Matters
Chan's presidency comes at a critical juncture as Hong Kong's engineering sector faces the dual challenges of climate change and rapid AI advancement. With the city accounting for over 50% of carbon emissions from buildings, the engineering profession's embrace of sustainable practices will be essential to meeting Hong Kong's carbon reduction targets. Moreover, as the Northern Metropolis development takes shape, Chan's vision for the Sha Ling Data Park as a national data gateway could position Hong Kong as a strategic hub in China's data infrastructure, leveraging proximity to mainland data centers while maintaining international connectivity.
Chan's presidency comes at a critical juncture as Hong Kong's engineering sector faces the dual challenges of climate change and rapid AI advancement. With the city accounting for over 50% of carbon emissions from buildings, the engineering profession's embrace of sustainable practices will be essential to meeting Hong Kong's carbon reduction targets. Moreover, as the Northern Metropolis development takes shape, Chan's vision for the Sha Ling Data Park as a national data gateway could position Hong Kong as a strategic hub in China's data infrastructure, leveraging proximity to mainland data centers while maintaining international connectivity.