Sr C Y Fung (CY) is currently Executive Director of Hip Hing Construction Company Limited, one of the leading building contractors in Hong Kong. Curiously, this busy executive considers “watching YouTube videos” one of his favourite pastimes, because of his passion for learning, his eagerness to foster flexible thinking, and his keenness to stay open-minded.
Throughout his illustrious career, CY has pursued quantity surveying and contracts management excellence, and invested himself in professional development and optimisation of operations with technologies. He takes initiatives to cultivate a learning culture in the workplace, so as to realise the potential of his team to the fullest, and to achieve success for the organisations he works for. As the Honorary Treasurer of Hong Kong Construction Association, he helps the association achieve financial stability in support of value innovation, progress and development within the trade. CY appreciates the value and satisfaction he derives from the process of learning and working as he makes tireless efforts to reach one career peak after another.
Tenacity to broaden one’s expertise
A man of stately bearing as well as an approachable corporate executive, CY impresses with his witty humour and unassuming manners. His road to success began with the Diploma programme in Building Studies at Morrison Hill Technical Institute, the predecessor of IVE (Morrison Hill). According to CY, the programme struck a balance between theoretical study and hands-on practice, and he was particularly interested in subjects related to surveying instruments and construction materials. The programme laid a solid foundation upon which his career as a surveyor thrived later on. In addition to his professional qualification as a quantity surveyor, he holds bachelor’s degrees in law and applied science. His Postgraduate Diploma in Construction Law, Mediation and Arbitration also come handy when he helps his company resolve engineering contract disputes. CY never stops learning because he believes knowledge is the most important asset in life.
During the interview, CY came across as an eloquent speaker on diverse subject matters ranging from his surveying profession and the latest construction technologies, to the political and economic outlooks in global context. Despite his busy schedule, he always squeezes time out to take in new knowledge, sharpen his senses towards various matters and hone his observation skills, so that he can make the most appropriate decisions for his company. Though engaged in self-learning for ages, he never finds it tiring. Just like the younger generations, CY is deeply fascinated by short-form video content on the internet. “The cyberspace is boundless. You can quickly grasp all kinds of information by watching videos online.” Be it superficial or profound, knowledge always empowers. When gathered little by little over time, it turns into wisdom – substantial and powerful. The process of accumulating knowledge can also be splendid and enjoyable.
Embracing technologies to drive growth
Familiar with both public and private sectors, CY has gone above and beyond in terms of career achievements. In the early days, he worked in the government briefly before launching his career in private consultancy agents and building contractors. With his shrewdness and business acumen, he has been appointed to hold top-level roles repeatedly as he climbed the hierarchical ladder. In 2012, he was hired by Hip Hing Construction Company Limited as General Manager (Commercial), in charge of managing engineering contracts worth tens of billions of dollars. The projects were found all over the territory, including infrastructure megaprojects, landmark commercial towers, and residential properties. No matter what the projects are, CY always gave his best. Thanks to his outstanding abilities, remarkable aplomb and pragmatic attitude, he was promoted to Executive Director in 2021. That was also considered one of highlights of his career. Right now, in conjunction with his fellow directors, he formulates long-term development strategies for Hip Hing to drive growth and progress on various levels, especially in terms of applying innovative technologies to the construction projects to help the enterprise stay competitive in the market.
Digitalising operations to keep abreast of the times
To boost accuracy in engineering designs and to reduce errors in construction planning, the engineering sector has been advocating the use of Building Information Modelling, or BIM in short. Leveraging intelligent 3D models, BIM strengthens the connection and fosters closer collaborations between engineering teams. According to CY, Hip Hing was among the pioneers who has adopted BIM technologies in Hong Kong, and related technologies have fully matured in recent years. “I believe investing in innovative technologies has become a trend in the industry and is sure the right way to move forward.” In fact, Hip Hing is taking one step further to consider establishing Common Data Environment (CDE), a large-scale centralised digital platform that integrates BIM data of various engineering projects across the board, not only to gather human resource data under one roof, but also to boost management efficiency and productivity.
Leading by example to cultivate learning culture
Looking back on his efforts to set new directions for his team, CY admitted that it hadn’t been smooth sailing all along. In the beginning, any attempt to introduce new technologies had met with resistance from some colleagues because they weren’t familiar with them and hesitated to jump on board. After contemplating the situation thoughtfully, he figured the most important task then was to foster a centripetal force that brought people together – by reaching consensus on a new common goal. As the popular saying goes, “Climbing a mountain entails mutual help from each other; crossing a river demands concerted efforts from all.” Change won’t happen if no one is pitching in; the wind will blow in the right direction only when the timing is right, he thought to himself. With the growing popularity of innovative technologies in recent years, their benefits became widely known within the industry. CY then took the opportunity to inspire his team and encourage his colleagues to equip themselves with technological skills that open up new possibilities for their personal development and enable them to collectively rise to the challenges posed by engineering projects in future. He deeply understands that managing people by tapping into their heart and soul is an art that involves empathetic concerns for their preferences and experiences, as well as a balance between operational needs and how people feel.
Not only does CY encourage his colleagues to explore ways to wisely incorporate technologies in their jobs, but also practises what he preaches. From time to time, he gets hands-on and examine tech-forward solutions with his colleagues. In his opinion, realising the potential of oneself and others helps boost each other’s competence and confidence, which in turn help them cope with issues that happen around them. He even said with a grin that giving himself a difficult problem occasionally also serves as his driving force to make progress. As a tech enthusiast, CY naturally enjoys discussing technological knowledge and sharing relevant insights with others. On his job, he also uses the latest innovations on a regular basis, including artificial intelligence (AI) powered software like the AI chatbot ChatGPT that is all the rage as of late. His management philosophy is to realise employee potential so that they love their company with all their hearts. Let them achieve work-life integration – bring life to work, and bring work to life. Let them commit themselves to their jobs just like they do to their families. He firmly believes in good corporate culture and spirit that bring about growth and progress for both employees and the employer.
Investing wisely to create value
CY’s success can also be attributed to his concept of optimal “investment”. As the Honorary Treasurer of the Hong Kong Construction Association, he always invests wisely. CY has been interested in figures; he believes in long-term planning, looking for opportunities proactively, and coping with changes along the way. Over the last term, he has been investing and manging the Association’s financial portfolio wisely, achieving financial stability and providing ample funding for various projects. In recent years, issues like environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), innovative safety solutions, and smart construction sites have attracted much attention within the construction industry. That’s why the Association also allocates funds to help members adopt such new technologies, so as to encourage progress and changes within the sector, and create new value therein.
Unleashing potential to go above and beyond
Every stage of life has its own merits. Investing your precious time in high-value activities is definitely a good idea. Good luck may put you on the fast track to success, but hard work is guaranteed to make you grow and develop steadily. Vocational education that imparts professional knowledge and skills is definitely worth pursuing. In the same line of thought, CY advised younger VTC students to seize every opportunity, unleash their potential, and have fun while learning. Pave the way for yourself to make progress in every stage of your life. Spread your wings and aim high to reach great heights. Live a fruitful and brilliant life.
