Asia-Pacific conference attracts 230 delegates

The NEC Asia-Pacific Users’ Group conference on 29 September 2017 at the Cordis Hotel, Hong Kong attracted a record 230 delegates. Entitled ‘NEC3 to NEC4: from partnership to collaboration’, the event gave a detailed insight to the NEC4 suite and its huge potential to transform construction procurement in the Asia-Pacific region.

The day began with a welcome from Chris Gibson, executive director of the Institution of Civil Engineers and an opening address by CK Hon, the Hong Kong government permanent secretary for development (works) and chair of the NEC Asia-Pacific Users’ Group.

Hon said, ‘In recent years, the Hong Kong government has been promoting collaborative partnerships for undertaking public works projects. We recognise that NEC is a very effective tool in this regard and therefore it is being extensively used in order to enhance management efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

‘This year we see another major milestone in the NEC journey and that is the launch of NEC4. With suitable amendments to adapt to the local environment, we trust NEC4 will further enhance collaborative partnering, unlock innovations from the supply chain, and achieve better cost management and value for money.’

New NEC Users’ Group chair David Hancock then gave a keynote address highlighting the transition from a partnering ethos in NEC3 to collaboration under NEC4, followed by a series of presentations on NEC4 contracts and specific aspects of NEC usage.

The morning session was rounded off by an NEC3 case study on the Lam Tin-Tseung Kwan O tunnel project presented by Wan Yanhu, director of China Road and Bridge Corporation–Build King joint venture.
Four afternoon workshops covered the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, the NEC4 service contracts, dispute resolution processes under NEC4, and NEC amendments and additional conditions on HK government forms.