Issue No. 3 (November 2006) - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

38 RECENT EVENTS
BEAR Conference 2006
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The Chartered Institute of Building (CIB) Working
Commission W89 International Conference on Building
Education and Research (BEAR) 2006 was launched with
great success at the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, Hong Kong
on 10-13 April 2006. The Conference was jointly organized
by the Research Centre for Construction and Real Estate
Economics and Research Centre for Construction
Innovation of the Department of Building & Real Estate.
The BEAR 2006 Conference enabled building and
construction practitioners to share their practical
experience and successful outcomes, particularly in the
areas of sustainability and innovation. Academics and
researchers were able to disseminate their latest research
findings; and government officials and policy-makers
discussed their construction related policies and strategies.
Participation was received from over 160 local and
international delegates from more than 16 countries,
making this the second largest W89 gathering to date
and one of its most successful. The opening speech was
made by Mr Yue Chi-hang, JP, Director of the Architectural
Services Department of Hong Kong SAR Government,
followed by a keynote speech delivered by Professor Roger
Flanagan, The University of Reading, UK, exploring the
competitiveness and profitability of the construction sector.
Altogether, over 110 fully authored and refereed papers
were published and presented, covering the four main
themes:
i) Education in the Built Environment;
ii) Construction Project Management;
iii) Construction Technology and Innovation; and
iv) Sustainable Development in Construction.
Professor Roger Flanagan giving his
keynote speech
Full house participation from 160 conference delegates
Public Policy Research
Forum
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The 2nd Forum of the Public
Policy Research Institute
(PPRI), The Hong Kong
Polytechnic University was
held on 27 April 2006. The
purpose of this Forum was
to update the public with
the latest research
development of PPRI,
whose mission is to
promote excellence in
public policy evidencebased
research.
Professor Eddie Hui (right)
Major clusters of public policy research, each of which involves
cross-department collaborations, have been developed. These
areas consist of Environment, Finance, Health and Welfare,
Housing and Planning, Logistics, Tourism. Public policy research
in the area of ‘Housing and Planning’ is mainly supported by the
Research Centre for Construction and Real Estate Economics in
the Department of Building & Real Estate.
During the breakout session on that day, three presentations
were given for ‘Housing and Planning’:
“The Paradox between Redevelopment and Rehabilitation: a
Holistic Solution through the URA’s Urban Renewal Experience”
presented by Mr Billy Lam, SBS, JP, Managing Director of Urban
Renewal Authority;
“Urban Redevelopment and Rehabilitation: Views from
Professionals” presented by Mr Tony Chan, Executive Director of
Vigers Appraisal & Consulting Limited; and
Mr Yue Chi-hang delivering
his opening speech
“The Benefits of Rehabilitation: Value Enhancement?” presented
by Professor Eddie Hui, Mr Joe Wong & Ms Janice Wan of
Department of Building & Real Estate, PolyU.