Engineer in Society

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Engineer in Society

• By Ir Raymond W.F. Chan
• Electronic Engineering Department
• City University of Hong Kong

http//www.ee.cityu.edu.hk/wfchan/engsoc.html
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Aims of The Course

• To examine the obligations, roles and
  professional conduct of an engineer in a modern
  society
• To stimulate a basic awareness of the legal,
  environmental and socio-economic factors which
  have a significant impact on engineering design
• To provide you with an element of social analysis
  appropriate to the society in which you will be
  expected to work
• To give an overview of the importance of health
  and safety in the workplace

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Objectives

• Upon completing the module, you should be able
  to
• Understand the legal aspects of engineering in
  society, environmental issues related to local
  industry and professional ethics
• Be aware of the impact of technology on society,
  and of the responsibilities and obligations of
  professional engineers towards Hong Kong
• Acquire knowledge of the basic principles in
  product engineering, current quality assurance
  practices, and business fundamentals for
  engineers
• Know the importance of health and safety in the
  workplace, and adopt the right attitude towards
  industrial safety and occupational hazard

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Syllabus

• Introduction to Local Industry
• Introduction to Product Engineering
• Business Fundamentals for Engineers
• Legal Aspects of Engineering in Society
• Society and Engineering
• Industrial Safety and Occupational Hazard

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Assessment

• Course Work 30 (Individual Group Assignments)
• Examination 70 (2-hour closed book examination)
• Choose 3 questions out of 4
• Each question carries equal weight
• 2/3 of each question are on taught courses the
  remaining 1/3 on honorary lectures

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Introduction to Local Industry

• Overview of electronics and related industries in
  Hong Kong
• The relationship of electronics industry with
  others
• The interaction and link of local industry with
  China, Asia Pacific Region, Europe, North America
  and other newly industrialized countries
• Environmental problems in local industry, and its
  impact on engineering and manufacturing
  technology

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

• Elements of GDP
• Private Consumption
• Public Consumption
• Capital Investment
• Increase (Decrease) in Inventory
• Net Export (Export - Import)

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Growth of GDP
Billion
1998
Year
Source HKSAR Government Information Services,
Hong Kong 1989 - 1998
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The Local Industry

• Agriculture Fishing
• Industry
• Services

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Industry

• Mining
• Manufacturing
• Power, Gas Water Supply Services
• Construction

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Services

• Wholesale
• Retail
• Import / Export
• Restaurant Hotel Services
• Transportation, Warehouse Telecommunications
• Financing, Insurance, Real-estates (Property)
  Business Services
• Community, Social Personal Services

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Industry (14.7)
Agriculture Fishing (0.1)
Services (85.2)
Distribution of Local Industry as at 1997
Source HKSAR Government Information Services,
Hong Kong 1998
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Growth Trend
Billion
Year
1997
Source HKSAR Government Information Services,
Hong Kong 1992 - 1998
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Distribution of Output
Year
1997
Source HKSAR Government Information Services,
Hong Kong 1992 - 1998
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Export by Category
Source HKSAR Government Information Services,
Hong Kong 1998
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Domestic Export of Electronic End Products - 1995

• Electronic clocks and watches (10.8)
• Photocopying apparatus (4.2)
• Computers (2.3)
• Electronic toys (2.1)
• Transmission apparatus (1.0)
• Television receivers (0.4)
• Calculators (0.3)
• Radios (0.3)
• Telephone sets (0.2)
• Others (6.6)
• Total 28.2

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Domestic Export of Electronic Components - 1995

• Parts and accessories for
• computers (16.7)
• telephones telegraphic apparatus (1.5)
• radio telecommunications (8.4)
• all kinds of recorders (3.5)
• Static converters (2.1)
• Printed circuits (5.3)
• Transistors (excl. photosensitive) (3.4)
• Digital monolithic integrated circuits (10.6)
• Non-digital monolithic integrated circuits (9.3)
• Others (11.0)
• Total 71.8

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Characteristics of HK Electronic Industry
Source Suzanne Berger Richard Lester, Made By
Hong Kong, p191
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Growth Trend in the Electronic Industry in HK
Billion
1998
Year
Source HKSAR Government Information Services,
Hong Kong 1989 - 1998
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Made by Hong Kong
1998
Source Hong Kong Trade Development Council, 1998
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Major Trading Partners

• In HK million

Source Hong Kong Government Industry Department,
1996 Hong Kong's Manufacturing Industries, p.37.
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Hong Kong's Competitive Advantages

• The Hong Kong People
• Proximity to relatively inexpensive labour and
  land in Guangdong
• An understanding of the culture and systems of
  mainland China
• Availability of suppliers, both in Hong Kong and
  Guangdong
• Excellent infrastructure
• International nature

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Hong Kong's Competitive Disadvantages

• High labour Costs
• Low technology / product innovation
• Low RD activities
• Mindset developed to favour short term investments

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End of Presentation

• Questions Answers