Date: 2nd-3rd March, 2009
Venue: Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
The First International Conference on Utility Management and Safety was held on 1-4 March 2009. Apart from soccer match on 1 March and technical and sightseeing visit on 4 March, most importantly, the two days conference was held at Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel from 2-3 March 2009. ICUMAS was pioneered and jointly organized by HKIUS and HKURC, co-organized with CIC and LSGI of PolyU with over 70 supporting organizations from government departments, academic institutes, professional associations from local, mainland china and overseas.
The overall conference attracted over 500 engineering, surveyors, safety and utility practitioners, government officials, professionals, academics and consultants to attend including the soccer match, conference, opening banquet and technical visit. The ICUMAS was a great success in providing an excellent platform and opportunity in keeping abreast of more knowledge and experience about utility management and safety, offering a communication channel to network with each other and promoting continuous cooperation among utility industry worldwide.
ICUMAS comprised of various sections, which featured keynote and guest lectures, parallel sessions respectively on 2nd March and 3rd March and a forum on 3rd March as well.
The ICUMAS opening banquet was organized together with HKIUS in celebrating its 6th Anniversary at the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. The evening gathered guests of 16 tables from government chief officials, association chairmen, professionals and academics. It was also our greatest pleasures to have invited 13 Honorary Guests to our event. The dinner was commenced by a welcome speech by HKIUS President, Ir Damien C.C. KU, in addressing and reporting to us the key milestones of the development of HKIUS. It was followed by the inauguration of the new session of HKIUS Council 2009/10 with the witness of our Honorary Guests. In addition, the Honorary Fellow was given to Mr. C.S. WAI, Director of Highways, HKSAR this year, who has shown remarkable effort in enhancing utility development in Hong Kong. The award presentation was discharged by Ir H.S. KWONG, GBS, JP, Chairman of ICUMAS Organizing Committee. The dinner was announced started right after the toasting led by our Honorary Guests on stage. It was pleasurable to meet all HKIUS friends in this occasion, and in order to update guests the status and development of the institute, HKIUS related questions were prepared and asked, in which guests that had answered correctly will be given a prize. This game had received enthusiastic participation from our guests.
Without the support of our supporting organizations and organizing committee, ICUMAS would not be successfully held and able to gather experts and professionals worldwide. In order to extend our immense gratitude, Prof. William KO and Ir Damien KU presented souvenirs to our supporting organizations and organizing committee respectively.
