Master Talk

The idiom goes, “It might take a decade to grow trees, but a hundred years to cultivate people”. When it comes to cities, the planning and development involved are even more challenging. In Hong Kong’s long-term development plan, the HKSAR reviews the territorial development strategy once every decade to embrace mid- to long-term goals. In 2021, the HKSAR debut the "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" developmental strategy, listing The Northern Metropolis and Harbour Metropolis as key parts of a South-North dual engine. This time, “Master Talk” provided an enlightening experience for middle-school students from CCC Heep Who College, offering them an in-depth understanding of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands initiative and a better understanding of the Islands, their blueprint and how they will realise a future that’s more convenient, spacious, and intelligent.

In the realm of gaming, constructing the edifice of your dreams is as simple as manipulating a few digital blocks. The reality of construction, however, is a symphony of precise calculations and tireless efforts orchestrated by a dedicated team of project engineers. The technology that drives the construction process is not just complex; it's revolutionary, far surpassing the mechanics of any video game. The “Master Talk" series takes students on an exploratory journey into another marvel of our city's infrastructure: the Trunk Road T2, Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel & The Cross Bay Link. Two cutting-edge technologies used within – tunnel boring and prefabrication – surely sparked the curiosity of Form 3 students of the Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School.

The Master Talk is designed not just to acquaint students with key infrastructural landmarks of the city, but also be the window that peers into the construction industry as they set forth in their careers. Accompanying the educational tour to the Sha Tin Water Treatment Works were insightful sessions on academics and career prospects, led by experienced engineers, to help students strategically navigate their way into the industry's future.

In the intricate network of a bustling metropolis, urban traffic flows like life-sustaining arteries, essential for the city's vitality. The "Master Talk" series offered a group of Form 4 and 5 students from The Church of Christ in China Heep Woh College a tangible glimpse into the future of urban transit by guiding them through The Central Kowloon Route (“CKR”) – Community Liaison Centre. This excursion highlighted how this new express route could help alleviating the chronic traffic congestion the traffic congestion of the existing major east-west transport corridors in central Kowloon, promising a rejuvenation of the urban pulse. Engaging with the marvels of modern engineering, the students delved into the complexities of subterranean construction via a 3D virtual reality journey, simulating the intricate process of underground blasting. Complementing this immersive experience, a STEAM workshop beckoned the young minds to construct air purifier models, offering a hands-on understanding of the sophisticated air filtration systems within the Central Kowloon Route Ventilation Building.

Apart from contributing to the development of the city’s infrastructure and housing, the construction industry is also paramount to ensuring a healthy living environment for the public and the sustainable development of the city overall. This time, the "Master Talk" series brought biology students of the Buddhist Mau Fung Memorial College on a tour of the Drainage Services Department’s Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works. Thanks to a thorough introduction by the electric and mechanical engineers, students gained a basic understanding of the wastewater treatment process and its importance to environmental protection, the reclaimed water program, and the career development of engineers in related fields. Students also had the opportunity to step into the Primary Sedimentation Tank and Aeration Tank, getting a first-hand experience on the challenges behind wastewater management.

Electrical and Mechanical (E&M) works are a pivotal component of the construction industry. Before buildings can be inhabited and utilized, they must be outfitted with electrically driven and mechanically operated equipment. At the recent CIC Master Talk, Form 5 students from United Christian College (Kowloon East) Church of Christ in China Ming Yin College had the opportunity to visit the EMSD Headquarters – the linchpin of the city’s E&M sector. During their visit, the students discovered the diverse applications of E&M facilities and the overarching role of the EMSD. They toured the headquarters, a building acclaimed with a Platinum Rating by the Hong Kong Green Building Council, to understand its achievements in energy efficiency and emission reduction. Additionally, the students explored the Kai Tak District Cooling System (North Plant) to grasp how this large cooling system supplies chilled water to efficiently offer air-conditioning across the 2.54 square kilometers of the Kai Tak Development.