In the year under review, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought challenges to every aspect of life in Hong Kong. Once again, our Strategic Business Units worked in concert to support clients in their anti-epidemic efforts for the well-being of the public under the "new normal", where a number of anti-epidemic measures have become part of our daily lives.

We proactively provided technical advice on the design, installation, testing and commissioning of various E&M systems at the newly established North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre to enhance the reliability, operational efficiency and maintainability of the systems, in order to combat the severe COVID-19 epidemic at any time.

The EMSD team, together with Dr Yuen Pak-leung (4th right in the photo), Senior Manager (Engineering) of the Hospital Authority, participated in the community treatment facility expansion at AsiaWorld-Expo to cope with Hong Kong's surging demand for medical facilities during the epidemic. The EMSD provided technical support for different E&M and medical equipment, including the Mobile Modular High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter Units.

The EMSD installed for the Fire Services Department at Ho Man Tin Ambulance Depot a new disinfection facility with changing and shower areas. Ambulance officers can change and take showers in the negative pressure compartment to minimise the risk of spreading the virus and enhance personal protection.

We modified electricity supply system of the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre to provide adequate power supply for the temporary air-inflated laboratory at the venue within ten days, and conducted inspections of ventilation systems for over 200 Community Testing Centres, in order to ensure smooth operation of the Universal Community Testing Programme.

To support the Government's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the EMSD installed the integrated Fridge Monitoring System, added temporary power supply systems and provided maintenance services for the equipment concerned at the Community Vaccination Centre at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, ensuring the smooth operation of the vaccination centre.

The EMSD set up escalator ultraviolet light disinfection device at the Po On Road Market for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Handrails are disinfected with ultraviolet-C-lamps for effective disinfection.

We have installed contactless lift control panels at the Central Government Offices. The application of infrared sensing technology in the design enables users to select the floors without directly touching the buttons of the lift control panels while using the lift. It minimises person-to-person contact and the risk of virus transmission.

We conducted inspection and maintenance for air-conditioning and ventilation systems at cooked food centres under the FEHD, thereby ensuring good air ventilation in the cooked food centres.

Upon the emergence of COVID-19 infection clusters, such as the "residential care homes for the elderly cluster", "fitness centre cluster" and "restaurant cluster", the EMSD provided support to the Centre for Health Protection, the team of Professor Yuen Kwok-yung of the University of Hong Kong, the Social Welfare Department and the Home Affairs Department, etc. and deployed staff to conduct investigations at the sites concerned, in order to find out the root causes of transmissions.

During the epidemic, the EMSTF captured new opportunities in 2021/22 as clients' demand for certain E&M services surged and their attitude towards new ideas and projects became more welcoming generally. Many clients renewed their Service Level Agreements, indicating a high level of trust in our services.

The EMSD carried out maintenance work for various E&M equipment at the Kowloon East Regional Headquarters of the Hong Kong Police Force. The relevant equipment included the suspended working platforms which allow workers to work at height to clean the walls and windows of the building, as well as the air handling units which provide fresh air and maintain air quality of the venue.

We received ISO 13485 certification for Quality Management System for Medical Devices in early 2021, becoming the first government department and one of the few "third party" maintenance service providers of multi-brand medical devices in Hong Kong to receive the certification.

For the sale event of New Year flowers held in 2021, we designed and deployed for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department a cloud-based central footfall monitoring system at the 15 points of sale of New Year flower. With three sets of infrared sensors installed at every entrance and exit point, the ticketing systems and display panels in the points of sale, the system effectively monitored the footfall and reduced the risk of virus spread.

We designed an Internet of Things (IoT) Clock and applied it at clients' venues to enhance the accuracy of their clocks. The clock time is regularly synchronised by the Government-Wide IoT Network.

We set up the smart toilet management system at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre to enhance the service quality of public facilities. Real-time environmental condition is provided for staff, while toilet users get to know the indoor air quality and queuing situation for toilets through the IoT platform and mobile applications.

In order to promote a green living environment, the EMSD installed electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in sports venues of various districts, thereby bringing convenience to EV drivers and facilitating the widespread application of EVs.

As the Government's Innovation Facilitator, the EMSD continued to promote among clients, the E&M trade and the public sector, the wider use of innovation and technology (I&T), including the use of green technologies, with the aim of transforming Hong Kong into a smart city as outlined in the Hong Kong Smart City Blueprint 2.0 published in December 2020.

The Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled Smart Toilet Bowl Cleaning System we developed won a Gold Medal in the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. The cleaning robot can analyse the cleanliness of the toilet bowl with video analytic technology and perform different cleaning tasks with its built-in brush, ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of the toilet and minimising the cleaning workers' risk of contracting virus.

We monitor the temperature changes of high voltage cables through the Fibre Optic Temperature Sensing System. When it detects abnormalities, such as overheating of high voltage cables, an alert will be sent immediately to inform us to conduct the necessary maintenance promptly to maintain normal and stable electricity supply.

We developed the Video Analytic Monitoring System for the Correctional Services Department (CSD). By real-time comparison of CCTV images, the system automatically detects abnormal behaviours of the persons in custody (PICs), such as fighting and suspicious gathering. If abnormal behaviours are detected, the system will notify the duty officers to take corresponding actions.

A new-generation parking meter has been installed for the Transport Department at Yiu Sing Street in Central. The new parking meter system which supports multiple e-payment means, is also equipped with occupancy sensors for detecting whether parking spaces are occupied so as to provide real-time information to assist motorists in finding vacant parking spaces. Moreover, it supports payment of parking fees by remote payment through the mobile application HKeMeter.

The Integrated Intelligent Communication System installed by the EMSD at Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution (TGCI) allows PICs to call registered contacts. Unlike traditional phones, this system can verify the identity of the PICs with its voice biometrics identification feature and the smart wristbands, and time the calls automatically.

To allow PICs to store their belongings properly, we installed the PICs e-locker system at TGCI for the CSD. The PICs can unlock the e-lockers with their smart wristbands.

We deployed the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment system at the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works for the Drainage Services Department (DSD), providing brand-new experience for visitors who can virtually visit different facilities and experience the sewage treatment process with a 360-degree view. The system also facilitates safety training for staff internally.

We installed the Smart Drainage – Flood Monitoring System in various sites for the DSD. Using IoT technology and a new type of sensor, the system can monitor in real-time the changes in water levels and relevant data to facilitate early implementation of contingency measures during typhoon season.

We developed a brand new Smart Mouse Trap System to address rodent infestation. After installing IoT sensors at places with rodent problems to collect information on their routes, smart mouse traps were set at those areas to catch the rodents.

To reduce social contact in the epidemic, we introduced to our clients robots with various functions, e.g. disinfection robot, fever screening robot and delivery robot, to assist them in performing different tasks and alleviate the workload of their frontline staff.

The piazza at the EMSD Headquarters, refurbished in early 2021, features various green facilities, such as novel landscape design, a solar tree and a solar-powered hydroponic garden, etc., thereby enabling colleagues and the public to enjoy a more comfortable, green and relaxing environment.

The E&M InnoFoyer located at the ground floor of the EMSD Headquarters, showcased various multimedia exhibits, including the EMSD's I&T projects and applications, such as the Smart Emergency Lighting System, IoT Clock, etc.

The EMSTF has long been playing a role in supporting the city's public infrastructure development programmes and maintaining their E&M facilities, covering diverse areas such as road and air transport, boundary control points, public health, government data centres, public buildings and facilities and even combating climate change.

To ensure the smooth opening of the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel, we actively assisted the Transport Department (TD) in the preparatory work for the commissioning and conducted technical assessment and inspection on various E&M facilities, including the Light Emitting Diode lighting system installed inside the tunnel and the control room.

We have designed and installed advanced examination equipment and an electronic control system for the newly built TD Vehicle Examination Complex in Tsing Yi, which will greatly improve the service quality and efficiency of vehicle examination. Building Information Modelling technology has also been applied in the design process to prepare for real-time data analysis of facility faults in future.

We installed the smart lighting system at the Public Health Laboratory Centre and wirelessly control power supply and record power consumption using the "ZigBee" technology. When the infrared sensor detects people passing by, the system will automatically adjust the light to the desired luminance to save electricity.

2020/21 saw the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic changed the way we work and live. Despite the challenges, our corporate units continued to render dedicated support to all Strategic Business Units, the E&M trade, our fellow EMSD colleagues and the community in moving towards the EMSTF's corporate goal of "creating public value for community betterment through partnership with different stakeholders".

The EMSD Headquarters Building has adopted various contactless lift button solutions to reduce the risk of virus spread, for instance "kNOw Touch" contactless lift control panel, floating floor button with the application of holographic technology, QR code scanning for selection of floors, and iLED touchless lift button.

During the epidemic, apart from regular cleaning and disinfection of the common areas and facilities of the EMSD Headquarters Building, disinfection of designated locations of the building was also conducted as needed to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.

To assist the trade in exploring innovation and technology (I&T) solutions, the EMSD launched the E&M I&T Day 2020 in the form of virtual exhibition for the first time, featuring over 50 I&T solutions from more than 40 exhibitors and over 40 webinars and talks.

The first online training programme for technician trainees jointly organised by the EMSD and the Guangzhou Technician College was held successfully.

Mr Pang Yiu-hung, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, delivered the opening speech at the award presentation ceremony cum sharing session of the second Inno@E&M Challenge held in September 2020.

The InnoTeams advanced to the second stage of the second Inno@E&M Challenge would further implement their I&T solutions.

The EMSD co-organised the Biomedical Engineering Conference BME 2020 with the Biomedical Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. The event facilitated exchange of ideas among experts from around the world on the long-term anti-epidemic solutions, promoted networking among trade practitioners, and shared their professional insights.

Thanks to client departments' support, the EMSD scored 6.83 and 6.85 (on an 8-point scale) respectively in the Customer Satisfaction Index and Overall Service Competitiveness Index in the Customer Opinion Survey 2020, both reaching a record high level.

The EMSD organised customer service workshops for various divisions, where different simulated cases and role-playing exercises were used to help colleagues master the techniques of customer service to enhance teamwork, improve work efficiency and provide better customer service.

The EMSD conducted Ambassador Visits to show care for our frontline staff, recognise their hard work and contributions in the fight against COVID-19, and encourage them to keep up the good work.

The EMSD launched a new project "All You Need to Know!" to provide the latest updates on working environment and facilities, workflow, career prospects, etc. for staff to cultivate their sense of belonging.

To promote work-life balance for colleagues, the EMSD Staff Club held a series of online activities called "ZOOM with You", with themes such as yoga, Chinese medicine and health maintenance, office storage, parent-child relationship, mental health, etc. for sharing.

To provide a better working environment for facilitating staff communication, the new office of the Municipal Sector Division adopted innovative design features with bright colours and more connecting space.

During the epidemic, the 2020 DEMS Briefing was held via live broadcast at over 60 venues for the first time, allowing colleagues to express their views directly to the senior management during online question and answer sessions.

With the theme of "Occupational Safety and Health Challenges under COVID-19", the Quality and Safety Day 2020 was held in February 2021 via online live broadcast. The winning teams presented their winning projects on-site.

The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services and the EMSD's management team visit the Community Vaccination Centre at Lung Sum Avenue Sports Centre to inspect the centre's operation and the integrated Fridge Monitoring System designed and installed by the EMSD.

As the ambassadors of the EMSD, Witty Bear and KnowBot, our new mascots, will assist in publicity campaigns. They also have Facebook and Instagram pages (@emsdwittybear) to share with the public various E&M knowledge and tips in a simple and interesting way.

The opening ceremony of the newly refurbished piazza of the EMSD Headquarters Building was held in March 2021. A comfortable and beautiful green environment adds vitality to the piazza and provides a public space to visitors.