The HKIE Project Sichuan Trust Fund (Trust Fund) has been set up for the purposes of providing relief, sustaining the recovery and reconstruction of Sichuan Province. Having been accorded charitable status, the Trust Fund is entitled to tax exemption under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112). Current Trustees appointed by the Council are Ir Dr Lo Wai Kwok, Ir Dr Chan Fuk Cheung and Ir Dr Joseph M K Chow, and Ir Dr Lo being Chairman at the meetings of the Trustees.

The principal purposes of Trust Fund are to provide engineering support to the reconstruction of the regions of Sichuan Province, which were affected by the earthquake in May 2008 and for other charitable purposes for the general benefit of the community of Hong Kong. In particular, the Trust Fund has the following objectives:

1. To promote and support engineering research relating to the reconstruction matters of the regions of Sichuan Province which were affected by the earthquake in May 2008 in such a way that would avoid or minimise any damages and impact of any future possible earthquake or other natural disasters on the building structures, properties and lives.
2. To disseminate the outcome of the research to the HKIE members, other organisations, or the public, where the Trustees shall think fit.
3. To encourage and support the HKIE members for the reconstruction work of Sichuan in such a way the knowledge and experience so gained in carrying out the reconstruction work can apply for the benefit of the Hong Kong community.
4. To promote and support, financially and otherwise, such other charitable purposes that will bring benefit to the Hong Kong community as the Trustees shall think fit.

The Trustees recently reviewed and approved the “Sichuan Reconstruction BS/IT/System Technical Support Project”, details of which are as follows:

Sichuan Reconstruction BS/IT/System Technical Support Project

The Development Bureau (DevB) of the HKSAR Government has been supporting and contributing to the Sichuan Reconstruction project (inclusive of 56 schools, 35 hospitals, 2 infrastructure, 35 social welfare facilities and 23 Wolong items).  Voluntary engineers are invited to join the Sichuan Reconstruction BS/IT/System Technical Support Project to provide engineering and professional advice and recommendations on the following three areas:

It is expected that the duration of such assistance will be from May 2011 to December 2011.

Engineers from the HKIE providing the expert advice will work jointly together with the DevB’s professional staff. They may be required to travel to Sichuan reconstruction sites to check, discuss, and advise the designers, contractors and users. The transportation, accommodation, insurance and daily expenses will be provided under the Trust Fund and the logistics arrangements will be responsible by the DevB.

Members may wish to note that throughout the required site trip under the Project, unrelated sightseeing excursion will not be allowed. To be in line with the requirement of the Trust Fund, all participants shall share their learning and experiences in Hong Kong to other interested HKIE members.