The negotiation for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications between the then Ministry of Construction (MOC) and the HKIE has resumed in January 2008 after a suspension of about one year. The Panel attended the Joint Meeting between the MOC and the Development Bureau on 18 January 2008, followed by the Electrical Discipline Expert Group Meeting with the Mainland counterparts on 14 April 2008 to further discuss the mutural recognition issue. The Panel learned from our Mainland counterparts that they had conducted three professional examinations and about 11,400 candidates had passed the examination but the registration of electrical engineers was yet to commence in due course.

After much deliberation at the meetings, it has been agreed in principle that the requirements of the professional qualification and experience are basically very similar but the professional assessment methods are different and further discussion is considered necessary. The Registered Electrical Engineers on the Mainland are mainly responsible for the design while in Hong Kong, the Registered Professional Engineers/ Corporate Members are responsible for the design, construction, testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance.

The Reciprocal Recognition Agreement between the HKIE and the Society of Operation Engineers on technologist qualification for Associate Members of the HKIE in the Electrical Discipline is being arranged and the draft documents are being drawn up for mutual agreement.

The Discipline currently has 101 Fellows and 1,273 Corporate Members.