Financial services, trading and logistics, producer and professional services and tourism are the four pillars that fuel Hong Kong's economic growth and sustain its prosperity.
Mechanical engineering has a stake in all those areas. According to government statistics, the four sectors together contributed 55 per cent of Hong Kong's GDP in 2006. In the financial services sector, mechanical engineers are tasked to design and maintain the mechanical systems in commercial high-rises and skyscrapers such as ventilation, air conditioning, fire protection, lifts and escalators, plumbing and drainage.
These systems ensure efficient and safe operation of the world's most influential financial institutions, banks and the associated data centres.
In the trading and logistics sector, mechanical engineers have made significant contributions in the development and maintenance of logistics infrastructure, such as the Super Terminal One at Chek Lap Kok.
On the tourism front, mechanical engineers indirectly fuel the growth of the industry by giving technical support to ensure safe and reliable air and sea transport services. They have also designed the baggage handling system at Hong Kong International Airport.
Getting passengers from the airport to the city centre also involves mechanical engineers who ensure the Airport Express operates in a safe, reliable and efficient way. This is also true with other rail networks.
