The Nuclear Division of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers was established in 1987/1988. It was at a time when the people of Hong Kong started to express their concern at the construction of the nuclear power plant at Daya Bay, Shenzhen. During the past 20 years, the Nuclear Division has been making every effort to promote the understanding of nuclear technology particularly in giving an impartial opinion on the safety of nuclear power plant. We are also actively involved in organising events to promote the understanding of nuclear power. In this connection, many activities on the subject including technical visits and seminars have been organised for interested members. While we do not have any nuclear development plan here in Hong Kong, an ambitious nuclear energy programme in China extending well into the next decade is in the pipe line with a substantial number of reactor units located in Daya Bay, some 50 km from our city centre. In the past 13 years, we have witnessed the commissioning of 2 x 984 MW units in Guangdong Nuclear Power Station and 2 x 990MW units in LingAo Nuclear Power Station Phase 1. Two more 1000 MW units are expected for LingAo Phase 2 commissioning in 2010 and 2012. In addition, 6 x 1000 MW units would be built at Yangjiang situated in the west of Guangdong where the next generation of nuclear reactor (Generation 3) is likely to be adopted. In addition, two more nuclear power stations are being planned for construction at LuFeng and TaiShan situated in the east and west of Guangdong respectively.

Given the present energy shortage in China together with the imminent need to preserve our environment by reducing the green house gas and emissions from fossil fuel power stations, there would be a new impetus to nuclear power in the coming decades. We believe that nuclear power would play an important role in meeting the future energy need around the world and we would be witnessing the global nuclear renaissance in the coming years. With the rapid economics integration in the Pearl River Delta, nuclear power would become an important composition of energy sources to meet the increasing electricity consumption in the region. The interest of Hong Kong engineers in the nuclear industry is also destined to grow.

The Nuclear Division just celebrated its 20th Anniversary on 26 April 2007. We shall continue to organise a wide range of activities for our members and reinforce the links with our counterparts in the Mainland, Taiwan and overseas so as to keep up with the development in the field and the emerging new technology. It is hoped that this homepage of the Nuclear Division could serve as a useful forum for the exchange of valuable information and ideas on nuclear engineering amidst the global nuclear renaissance in the coming years. All HKIE members are welcome to participate in our activities to broaden their knowledge in nuclear technology.

Ir Vincent FONG Ping
Chairman, Nuclear Division
Session 2007/2008