Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 1

Chapter: 409 ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE Gazette Number Version Date

Long title 30/06/1997


An Ordinance to provide for the registration of professional engineers, the recognition of disciplines within the
profession and disciplinary control of the professional activities of registered professional engineers, and for
related matters.


[4 May 1990]


(Originally 22 of 1990)

Part: I PRELIMINARY 30/06/1997




Section: 1 Short title 30/06/1997


This Ordinance may be cited as the Engineers Registration Ordinance.

Section: 2 Interpretation 10 of 2005 08/07/2005


(1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires- (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 86)
"Board" (管理局) means the registration board established under section 3;
"Chairman" (主席) means the Chairman of the Board elected under section 5;
"Council" (理事會) means the Council of the Institution;
"discipline" (界別) means a branch of the engineering profession established by the Institution or designated by the

Board under section 7(b);
"disciplinary offence" (違紀行為) means an act or omission set out in section 20(1);
"inquiry committee" (研訊委員會) means an inquiry committee established under section 21;
"Institution" (學會) means the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers established under The Hong Kong Institution of

Engineers Ordinance (Cap 1105);
"member of the Institution" (學會會員) means a person who is a corporate member under the constitution of the

Institution;
"register" (註冊紀錄冊) means the register established under section 7;
"registered professional engineer" (註冊專業工程師) means a person whose name is currently entered in the

register;
"Registrar" (註冊主任) means the Registrar appointed under section 10;
"registration committee" (註冊事務委員會) means a registration committee established under section 16;
"review committee" (覆核委員會) means a review committee appointed under section 25(2).

(2) For the purposes of sections 26(2) and 27(1), an appeal to the Court of Appeal shall be deemed to be finally
determined when the earliest of the following events occurs, whichever is applicable in the circumstances-

(a) when the appeal to the Court of Appeal is withdrawn or abandoned;
(b) when the specified period expires without an application for leave to appeal having been made to the

Court of Appeal;
(c) if, before the expiry of the specified period, an application for leave to appeal is made to the Court of

Appeal-
(i) when the application is withdrawn or abandoned;
(ii) if the application is refused, when the specified period expires without an application for leave to

appeal having been made to the Court of Final Appeal; or
(iii) if the application is granted, when the appeal to the Court of Final Appeal is withdrawn,

abandoned or disposed of; or



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 2

(d) if, before the expiry of the specified period, an application for leave to appeal is made to the Court of
Final Appeal-
(i) when the application is withdrawn, abandoned or refused; or
(ii) if the application is granted, when the appeal to the Court of Final Appeal is withdrawn,

abandoned or disposed of. (Added 10 of 2005 s. 86)
(3) In subsection (2)-

"application for leave to appeal" (上訴許可申請) means an application made to the Court of Appeal or the Court of
Final Appeal under section 24 of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484) for leave to appeal
to the Court of Final Appeal from a judgment of the Court of Appeal;

"specified period" (指明限期)-
(a) in the case of an application for leave to appeal made to the Court of Appeal, means-

(i) subject to subparagraph (ii), the period of 28 days within which the notice of motion referred to
in section 24(2) of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484) is required to be
filed; or

(ii) if, on an application made within the 28-day period referred to in subparagraph (i), the Court of
Appeal extends that period, the period as so extended; or

(b) in the case of an application for leave to appeal made to the Court of Final Appeal, means-
(i) subject to subparagraph (ii), the period of 28 days within which the notice of motion referred to

in section 24(4) of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap 484) is required to be
filed; or

(ii) if, on an application made within the 28-day period referred to in subparagraph (i), the Court of
Final Appeal extends that period, the period as so extended. (Added 10 of 2005 s. 86)


Part: II ENGINEERS REGISTRATION BOARD 30/06/1997




Section: 3 Constitution of the Board 57 of 1999 01/07/1997


Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 57 of 1999 s. 3


(1) There is established a board to be known as the Engineers Registration Board which shall be a body
corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal.

(2) The Board shall consist of not less than 20 members appointed by the Council and, in addition, may include
one member appointed by the Chief Executive. (Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)

(3) The Chief Executive shall give notice in the Gazette of every appointment made under this section.
(Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)

(4) The Council shall not appoint a person as a member of the Board unless he is a member of the Institution.

Section: 4 Tenure of office L.N. 158 of 1998 01/04/1998


Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 57 of 1999 s. 3


(1) Members appointed by the Council-
(a) shall be appointed for 4 years or such lesser period as may be specified in the terms of his

appointment;
(b) may resign by giving notice in writing to the Board; and
(c) subject to subsection (2) may be reappointed.

(2) A member-
(a) who has been a member of the Board appointed by the Council continuously for 8 years; or
(b) whose period of service as a member of the Board appointed by the Council exceeds 8 years in any 10

year period,
may not be reappointed (unless he becomes the President of the Institution) until a period of 2 years since he last



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 3

served has elapsed when he shall be eligible for reappointment as if he had not previously been appointed.
(3) The member appointed by the Chief Executive shall hold office at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

(Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)
(4) If the Board is satisfied that a member of the Board appointed by the Council-

(a) has become bankrupt or has entered into a voluntary arrangement with his creditors within the meaning
of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap 6); (Amended 76 of 1996 s. 89)

(b) has become so incapacitated by physical or mental illness as to be unable to carry out his duties as a
member;

(c) has ceased to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong;
(d) has been sentenced to imprisonment, whether suspended or not, by any court or magistrate;
(e) has been found guilty of a disciplinary offence; or
(f) notwithstanding any of the other grounds for removal, is, in the opinion of the Board, unable or unfit to

carry out his functions as a member of the Board,
the Board may by notice in writing terminate his appointment.

(5) Where any member of the Board appointed by the Council is precluded by temporary absence or incapacity
from carrying out his functions as a member for any period or resigns, the Council may appoint another person to hold
office in place of such member-

(a) in the case of a temporary absence or incapacity, during the period of temporary absence or incapacity;
or

(b) in the case of a resignation, for the balance of the period for which the resigning member was due to
serve.


Section: 5 Chairman 30/06/1997


(1) The Board shall elect a Chairman and a Vice-chairman each year from among the members and not more
than 15 months shall elapse between the date of one election and the next.

(2) A member elected as Chairman or Vice-chairman under subsection (1) may at any time, by notice in writing
to the Board, resign from the office of Chairman or Vice-chairman.

Section: 6 Proceedings L.N. 130 of 2007 01/07/2007


Remarks:
For the saving and transitional provisions relating to the amendments made by the Resolution of the Legislative
Council (L.N. 130 of 2007), see paragraph (12) of that Resolution.


(1) The Chairman, or in his absence, the Vice-chairman, may appoint the time and place for the Board to meet.
(2) The Registrar shall, or a member of the Board may, on the written requisition of not less than 3 members

give notice of a meeting of the Board to be held not sooner than 7 days but within 28 days from receipt of the
requisition and appoint the time and place for that purpose.

(3) The Board shall meet at least once every 6 months and as often as may be necessary to transact the business
of the Board.

(4) The Board shall not transact business at a meeting other than to adjourn unless there is a quorum of one
third of the members of the Board present.

(5) The Board may make rules, not inconsistent with this section, setting out the procedures to be followed at
meetings.

(6) The Board shall lodge a copy of any rules made under subsection (5) with the Secretary for Development.
(Amended 33 of 1997 s. 9; L.N. 106 of 2002; L.N. 130 of 2007)

Section: 7 Functions of the Board 30/06/1997


The Board shall-
(a) establish and maintain a register of registered professional engineers;
(b) designate disciplines within the engineering profession under which a person may be registered as a

registered professional engineer;
(c) set and review the qualification standards for registration as a registered professional engineer and



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 4

related registration matters;
(d) advise the Government and the Institution on registration matters;
(e) examine and verify the qualifications of persons who apply for registration as registered professional

engineers;
(f) receive, examine, accept or reject applications for registration and renewal of registration as a

registered professional engineer;
(g) deal with disciplinary offences in accordance with this Ordinance;
(h) keep proper records of its proceedings and accounts; and
(i) carry out such other functions as this Ordinance may prescribe.


Section: 8 Powers of the Board 30/06/1997


The Board may-
(a) set fees payable to it under this Ordinance;
(b) establish committees to advise the Board on the carrying out of the powers and duties of the Board;
(c) employ persons to assist with the carrying out of its functions under this Ordinance;
(ca) from time to time engage such professional advisers as it may consider necessary or expedient;

(Added 33 of 1997 s. 10)
(d) make rules for the conduct and discipline of registered professional engineers;
(e) make rules for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by persons attending to the business

of the Board;
(f) make further rules required under this Ordinance.


Section: 9 No fees payable to Board members 30/06/1997


No fee shall be paid to any member of the Board for his services as a member.

Part: III REGISTER AND CERTIFICATES 30/06/1997




Section: 10 Appointment and duties of Registrar 30/06/1997


(1) The Board shall appoint a person to be Registrar upon such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
(2) The Registrar shall-

(a) be responsible for the custody of the register; and
(b) serve as secretary to the Board, and, subject to any rules made by the Board, the registration committee

and any inquiry committee.

Section: 11 Form of register 30/06/1997


(1) The Registrar shall, in accordance with the directions of the Board, keep the register in which he shall enter
in respect of every registered professional engineer-

(a) the discipline under which the person is registered;
(b) the name and address of the registered professional engineer;
(c) the qualification on which his registration is based; and
(d) any other details that the Board may direct.

(2) The register shall be available to any person for inspection free of charge at the office of the Institution at
such reasonable times as the Board may direct.

(3) A person whose name is entered in the register shall within 28 days notify the Registrar of any change in
the particulars prescribed by subsection (1).

(4) The Board shall not charge a fee to amend the register.




Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 5

Section: 12 Qualifications for registration 30/06/1997


(1) The Board shall not register a person as a registered professional engineer unless-
(a) he-

(i) is a member of the Institution within a discipline; or
(ii) is a member of an engineering body the membership of which is accepted by the Board as being

of a standard not less than that of a member of the Institution within a discipline; or
(iii) has passed such examination in engineering and other subjects and has received such training

experience as the Board may accept, either generally or in a particular case, as a qualification of a
standard not less than that of a member of the Institution within a discipline; and

(b) he satisfies the Board that he has had 1 year's relevant professional experience in Hong Kong before
the date of his application for registration; and

(c) he is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong; and
(d) he is not the subject of an inquiry Committee or a disciplinary order under Part IV which precludes

him from being registered under this Ordinance; and
(e) he satisfies the Board by declaration in writing that he is competent to practise in the relevant

discipline; and
(f) he is a fit and proper person to be registered.

(2) Without limiting the effect of subsection (1)(f), the Board may refuse to register a person as a registered
professional engineer who-

(a) has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of any offence which may bring the profession into
disrepute and sentenced to imprisonment, whether suspended or not; or

(b) has committed misconduct or neglect in a professional respect.
(3) Where the Board is satisfied by an applicant that he is competent to practise engineering in a discipline and

the Board is later satisfied that the person is not competent to practise engineering in that discipline, the Board may
refer the matter to an inquiry committee who shall deal with it as if it was a complaint under section 21(1).

Section: 13 Application for registration 30/06/1997


(1) A person shall apply for registration as a registered professional engineer in such form and manner as the
Board may specify.

(2) An applicant shall pay to the Board at the time of lodging his application the fee for an application for
registration.

(3) The Board may, in its discretion, require an applicant to undertake a written examination under section
12(1)(a)(iii) of his knowledge of engineering within the relevant discipline and professional matters.

Section: 14 Acceptance or refusal of registration 30/06/1997


(1) The Board may accept or reject an application for registration or renewal of registration under this
Ordinance.

(2) Where the Board accepts or rejects an application for registration or renewal of registration, the Registrar
shall act in accordance with rules made by the Board.

(3) Where the Board rejects an application for the registration or renewal of registration, it shall give reasons
for the rejection.

Section: 15 Expiry of registration and renewal 30/06/1997


(1) The entry in the register of a person as a registered professional engineer under this Ordinance-
(a) shall remain in force for 12 months from the date when he was registered;
(b) may be renewed annually by application of the person so registered.

(2) A registered professional engineer shall apply for renewal of registration to the Registrar in the form
specified by the Board not earlier than 3 months and not later than 28 days prior to the expiry of the current
registration.

(3) A registered professional engineer shall pay to the Board the fee for an application for renewal of



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 6

registration at the time of applying for renewal of registration.
(4) If a registered professional engineer does not apply for renewal of registration before the expiry of his

current registration-
(a) the Registrar shall, on the expiry of the current registration, note in the register that registration has not

been renewed; and
(b) the person shall be deemed not to be currently on the register from the date of expiry of his

registration.
(5) The Board may reject an application for renewal if it is satisfied that the applicant does not continue to

comply with the requirements for registration set out in section 12.
(6) Where a registered professional engineer fails to renew his registration within time, the Board may extend

the time for renewal of registration if the registered professional engineer pays to the Board the fee for the extension
of time.

(7) Any grant of extension of time by the Board shall not affect any offence under any other Ordinance that the
person who has failed to renew on time may commit as a result of that failure.

(8) If the registration of a registered professional engineer has expired, the Board may require him to reapply
for registration instead of renewing his registration.

Section: 16 Registration committee 57 of 1999 01/07/1997


Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 57 of 1999 s. 3


(1) The Board may appoint a committee of not less than 10 members from the members of the Institution to
examine the engineering qualifications of an applicant for registration in a discipline, at least 1 member of the
committee having qualifications in the discipline for which the applicant has applied for registration and at least 1
other member having qualifications, in the opinion of the Board, in a similar discipline to that for which the applicant
has applied for registration.

(2) The Chief Executive may nominate a person to be a member of the registration committee, and, if a person
is so nominated, the Board shall appoint him to the committee. (Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)

(3) The registration committee shall make recommendations to the Board on the acceptability of the
qualifications which require the Board's acceptance under section 12(1)(a)(ii) or (iii).

(4) The Board shall not be bound by a recommendation of the registration committee under subsection (3).
(5) The Board may delegate any of its functions relating to registration and the renewal of registration to the

registration committee.

Section: 17 Certificate of registration 30/06/1997


The Registrar may, on payment by a registered professional engineer to the Board of the fee, issue to the
registered professional engineer a certificate of registration or a certificate of renewal of registration in the form
specified by the Board.

Section: 18 Notice to Board on leaving Hong Kong 30/06/1997


A registered professional engineer shall notify the Board if he is likely to be absent from Hong Kong for a
continuous period of more than 6 months.

Section: 19 Removal of name from the register 10 of 2005 08/07/2005


(1) The Registrar may remove the name of a registered professional engineer from the register if he has notice
that the registered professional engineer has-

(a) died;
(b) applied to discontinue his registration;
(c) in the opinion of the Board, ceased to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong;
(d) failed to renew his registration;
(e) ceased to hold a qualification by virtue of which he was registered; or



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 7

(f) failed to notify a change of details required under section 11(3).
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), if a registered professional engineer has failed to reside in Hong Kong

for a period of 2 years or more, the Board shall not consider him to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.
(3) Subject to section 26(2), the Registrar shall remove a name from the register if he receives an order of the

Court of Final Appeal, the Court of Appeal or an inquiry committee directing that the name be removed from the
register. (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 87)

(4) Where the Registrar intends to remove the name of a registered professional engineer from the register
under subsection (1)(c), (d), (e) or (f), he shall send notice of his intention by prepaid registered post to the registered
address of the registered professional engineer and shall not remove his name until the expiry of a period of 28 days
after the date of posting the notice.

(5) If the Registrar gives notice to a registered professional engineer that-
(a) the Board is of the opinion that he is not ordinarily resident in Hong Kong and, before the Registrar

acts to remove his name from the register, the registered professional engineer satisfies the Board that
he is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong;

(b) he has not applied to renew his registration and, before the Registrar acts to remove his name from the
register, the registered professional engineer properly applies to renew his registration;

(c) he has ceased to hold a qualification by virtue of which he was registered and, before the Registrar acts
to remove his name from the register, the registered professional engineer satisfies the Board that he
holds the qualification; or

(d) he has failed to notify a change in particulars required under section 11(3) and, before the Registrar
acts to remove his name from the register, the registered professional engineer takes such action as will
remedy the defect in the register,

the Registrar shall not remove the name from the register for the reason set out in the notice referred to in subsection
(4).

(6) If the name of a registered professional engineer is removed from the register, his registration is cancelled
and he shall return any certificate issued in respect of his registration to the Registrar.

(7) The Board shall not be liable to refund to a person any fee, or any part of any fee, on the removal of his
name from the register.

(8) The Registrar may correct any error apparent on the face of the register.

Part: IV DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS 30/06/1997




Section: 20 Disciplinary offences 30/06/1997


(1) A registered professional engineer commits a disciplinary offence if he-
(a) commits misconduct or neglect in any professional respect;
(b) has been convicted of an offence under this Ordinance;
(c) has obtained registration under this Ordinance by fraud or misrepresentation;
(d) was not at the time of his registration under this Ordinance entitled to be registered;
(e) has held himself out to be a registered professional engineer in a specific discipline when he was not so

registered;
(f) without reasonable excuse, fails to attend before an inquiry committee when summoned either as a

witness or as a person in respect of whom the inquiry committee is meeting; or
(g) has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of any offence which may bring the profession into

disrepute and sentenced to imprisonment, whether the sentence is suspended or not.
(2) If a person who has been guilty of misconduct or neglect in a professional respect or has been convicted of

an offence under this Ordinance or has been convicted of an offence likely to bring the profession into disrepute and
sentenced to imprisonment, informs the Board of such misconduct, neglect or conviction when he applies for
registration or renewal of registration and the Board subsequently accepts the person for registration or renewal of
registration, that person shall not, for the purposes of registration or renewal of registration, be considered as having
committed a disciplinary offence in respect of the disclosed misconduct, neglect or conviction.

(3) Where the Registrar receives a complaint concerning a disciplinary offence, the Registrar shall submit the
facts to 2 members of the Board appointed by the Board for the purpose, and the members, in consultation with the
Registrar, shall determine whether the complaint should be referred to the Board.



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 8


Section: 21 Inquiry committee and rules of conduct 30/06/1997


(1) The Board may refer any complaint concerning a disciplinary offence to an inquiry committee for decision,
and for that purpose the Board may establish an inquiry committee of not less than 3 members of the Institution in the
same or a similar discipline as the registered professional engineer in respect of whom the complaint is made, to
determine whether or not he has committed a disciplinary offence.

(2) The Board may make rules providing for the conduct of its inquiries by an inquiry committee and for other
matters relating to the investigation of an alleged disciplinary offence.

(3) The inquiry committee shall not proceed to hear evidence of a complaint concerning a disciplinary offence
unless the registered professional engineer in respect of whom the complaint is made is given 28 days' notice of the
complaint and the date, time and place of the hearing.

(4) The registered professional engineer referred to in subsection (3) shall be entitled to attend and hear all
evidence produced at the hearing and shall be provided with a copy of this Ordinance and any rules made under this
section.

(5) The Board may make rules for the rehearing of an inquiry by an inquiry committee.
(6) Where a registered professional engineer is alleged to have committed a disciplinary offence under section

20(1)(b) or (g), the inquiry committee-
(a) shall not be required to inquire whether the registered professional engineer was properly convicted of

the alleged offence; and
(b) may consider any record of the case in which a conviction was recorded and any other evidence which

is relevant as showing the nature and gravity of the offence.
(7) The inquiry committee may, in deciding whether a person has committed a disciplinary offence, have

regard to any code of professional conduct or practice promulgated by the Board or currently in use by the Institution.

Section: 22 Legal adviser 30/06/1997


The Board may appoint a legal practitioner to advise an inquiry committee and a review committee on any
points of law and procedure that arise before, during or after the inquiry.

Section: 23 Disciplinary orders of inquiry committee and costs 25 of 2008 11/07/2008


(1) Where an inquiry committee finds that a registered professional engineer committed a disciplinary offence,
on confirmation by a review committee of the finding, or on the variation of the finding or any proposed order based
on the recommendation of the review committee, the inquiry committee may make any one or more of the following
orders- (Amended 33 of 1997 s. 11)

(a) order the Registrar to remove the name of the registered professional engineer from the register;
(b) order the Registrar to remove the name of the registered professional engineer from the register for

such period as the inquiry committee may think fit;
(c) reprimand the registered professional engineer in writing and order the Registrar to record the

reprimand on the register;
(d) order that an order made under this section be suspended, subject to such conditions as the inquiry

committee may think fit, for a period not exceeding 2 years;
(e) order that the Board shall not accept an application from the registered professional engineer for

registration as a registered professional engineer either for a fixed period or until the registered
professional engineer satisfies the Board that he should be registered;

(f) order that the Chairman admonish the registered professional engineer orally; (Amended 33 of 1997 s.
11)

(g) order the registered professional engineer to pay all or part of the costs of any of the Registrar, the
Board or the inquiry committee arising from the case if, but only if, the inquiry committee is satisfied
that in all the circumstances of the case it would be unjust and inequitable not to do so. (Added 33 of
1997 s. 11)

(2) Costs payable by virtue of an order under subsection (1)(g) shall be recoverable as a civil debt. (Added 33
of 1997 s. 11)

(3) The inquiry committee may-



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 9

(a) assess the amount of any costs to be payable by virtue of an order under subsection (1)(g); or
(b) order that those costs be taxed on the basis of any one of the scale of costs specified in Part I of

Schedule 1 to Order 62 of the Rules of the District Court (Cap 336 sub. leg. H), (Amended 25 of 2008
s. 15)

and the Schedules to Order 62 of the Rules of the High Court (Cap 4 sub. leg. A) shall, with all necessary
modifications, apply to the taxation and recovery of costs. (Added 33 of 1997 s. 11. Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)

(4) For the purposes of this Ordinance (including sections 25 and 28), any assessment or order under subsection
(3) shall be deemed to be part of the order under subsection (1)(g) to which it relates. (Added 33 of 1997 s. 11)

Section: 24 Powers in regard to obtaining of evidence and conduct at

inquiry
30/06/1997



(1) An inquiry committee shall have power-
(a) to hear, receive and examine evidence on oath;
(b) to summon any person to attend the inquiry either as the person whose conduct is the subject of the

inquiry or to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in his possession and to examine
him as a witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession, subject to all
just exceptions;

(c) to admit or exclude the public or any member of the public from the inquiry;
(d) to admit or exclude the press from the inquiry;
(e) to award any person summoned to attend the inquiry as a witness such sum, to be paid from the funds

of the Board, as in the opinion of the inquiry committee have been reasonably expended by him in
connection with his attendance.

(2) The Registrar shall sign summonses to witnesses.
(3) No person shall be required to answer any question or produce any document or other thing which, in the

opinion of the inquiry committee, may tend to incriminate him.
(4) A witness shall, in respect of any evidence given by him before the inquiry committee, be entitled to the

same privileges to which he would be entitled if he were giving evidence in court.

Section: 25 Review of disciplinary orders 30/06/1997


(1) When an inquiry committee completes its hearing in respect of a disciplinary offence and makes a finding
that a disciplinary offence has been committed, the Registrar shall forthwith forward the inquiry committee's decision
and details of any order proposed to be made by the inquiry committee under section 23 to the Board for review.

(2) The Board shall appoint 3 of its members, one of whom shall be qualified in the discipline, or, in the
opinion of the Board, a discipline similar to the discipline, of the registered professional engineer concerned to sit with
the Chairman as a review committee to review the decision of the inquiry committee.

(3) The Board shall not appoint a member of the inquiry committee to be a member of the review committee.
(4) The review committee may-

(a) confirm the decision and any proposed order of the inquiry committee;
(b) reverse a finding of guilt of the inquiry committee;
(c) recommend that any proposed order made by the inquiry committee be varied; or
(d) remit the decision or any proposed order of the inquiry committee to the inquiry committee with

directions to reconsider the decision or proposed order or both.
(5) The inquiry committee shall comply with the directions and recommendation, if any, of the review

committee.

Section: 26 Service of orders of inquiry committee 10 of 2005 08/07/2005


(1) The Registrar shall serve a copy of any order made under section 23(1) , together with a copy of the inquiry
committee's reasons, or serve notice that the inquiry committee has not found that the registered professional engineer
concerned committed a disciplinary offence, upon the registered professional engineer who was the subject of the
complaint, either personally or by registered post addressed to his registered address immediately when the Registrar
receives- (Amended 33 of 1997 s. 12)

(a) the report of the review committee, unless the inquiry committee is to reconsider its decision; or



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 10

(b) any order of the inquiry committee reviewed under section 25(4)(d).
(2) The Registrar shall not remove the name of the registered professional engineer from the register before the

expiry of a period of 3 months after the date of service of the order under subsection (1) or, in the case of an appeal
made to the Court of Appeal against the order under section 28, before the appeal is finally determined. (Amended 10
of 2005 s. 88)

(3) Any person whose name has been removed from the register under this Ordinance may apply to the Board
for the restoration of his name to the register, and the Board may, after such inquiry and subject to such conditions as
it may consider desirable, allow or refuse the application.

(4) If the Board allows an application under subsection (3), it shall order the Registrar to restore the name of
the applicant to the register on payment by the applicant of the prescribed fee.

Section: 27 Publication of disciplinary orders 10 of 2005 08/07/2005


(1) After the expiry of the time within which an appeal may be made to the Court of Appeal under section 28
against an order of an inquiry committee made under section 23(1)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) or, if such an appeal has been
made, after the appeal is finally determined, the Board- (Amended L.N. 179 of 1991; 33 of 1997 s. 13; 10 of 2005 s.
89)

(a) shall publish a copy of the order or, if the order is varied on appeal, the order as so varied in at least
one English and one Chinese language newspaper circulating daily in Hong Kong; and

(b) may publish the order or, if the order is varied on appeal, the order as so varied in any other
publication or manner as the Board thinks fit. (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 89)

(2) Where an order is published under subsection (1), the Board-
(a) shall publish with such order sufficient particulars to acquaint the public with the nature of the matter

to which the order relates; and
(b) may publish with such order an account of the proceedings of the inquiry committee.

(3) No action in damages for defamation shall lie against any person as a result of publishing an order and other
particulars required or permitted under this section.

Part: V APPEALS 30/06/1997




Section: 28 Appeal to Court of Appeal 10 of 2005 08/07/2005


(1) Any person who is aggrieved by any decision or order made in respect of him under section 14(1), 15(5) or
23(1) may appeal to the Court of Appeal. (Amended 33 of 1997 s. 14)

(2) The Court of Appeal may affirm, reverse or vary the decision or order appealed against. (Amended 10 of
2005 s. 90)

(3) Where a person appeals against an order of an inquiry committee, the Court of Appeal shall consider the
reasons of the inquiry committee and submissions upon the findings of fact and law of the inquiry committee made on
behalf of the parties to the inquiry and may call for the original record of the evidence taken and any document put in
evidence before the inquiry committee. (Amended 10 of 2005 s. 90)

(4) The Court of Appeal may, upon special grounds being shown, consider any additional evidence not
adduced before the inquiry committee.

(5) (Repealed 10 of 2005 s. 85)
(6) The practice in relation to any appeal shall be subject to any rules of court made under the High Court

Ordinance (Cap 4). (Amended 57 of 1999 s. 3)
(7) The Court of Appeal shall not have power to hear any appeal against a decision or order made under section

14(1), 15(5) or 23(1) unless-
(a) in the case of a decision made under section 14(1) or 15(5), notice of such appeal is given within 3

months after the applicant is notified in writing of the decision;
(b) in the case of an order made under section 23(1), notice of such appeal is given within 3 months of the

service of the order under section 26. (Replaced 33 of 1997 s. 14)
(8) In deciding any appeal under this section the Court of Appeal may make such order for payment of costs as

it considers reasonable.




Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 11

Part: VI USE OF TITLE 30/06/1997




Section: 29 Use of title 30/06/1997


(1) A person whose name does not appear on the register shall not be entitled to describe himself as a
"registered professional engineer" with or without a qualifying discipline or to use the initials "R.P.E." with or without
a qualifying discipline.

(2) A person shall not use the description of "registered professional engineer" or the initials "R.P.E." unless
the person includes in the description the qualifying discipline either in full or by an abbreviation approved by the
Board.

(3) The Board may apply to a judge for an order restraining any person whose name is not on the register or on
the part of the register which applies to a particular discipline from describing himself as a "registered professional
engineer" or using the initials "R.P.E." whether used with or without a qualifying discipline or with a discipline for
which he is not registered.

(4) A person, including a firm or company, shall not use the description of "registered professional engineers"
or the initials "R.P.E." unless-

(a) at each place where the person carries on the business of engineering, that business is conducted under
the supervision of a registered professional engineer of the appropriate discipline who does not act at
the same time for any other person other than for a firm or company that has substantially the same
beneficial ownership and management as the person (where the person is a firm or company);

(b) where the person carries on a multidisciplinary practice, that business, so far as it relates to
engineering, is under the full time control and management of a registered professional engineer of the
appropriate discipline who does not act at the same time in a similar capacity for any other person
other than for a firm or company that has substantially the same beneficial ownership and management
as the person (where the person is a firm or company).

(5) The Board may apply to a judge for an order restraining any person who holds himself out to be providing
engineering consultancy services at a professional level from so doing if the name of the person does not appear on the
register or if the person has not complied with the requirements set out in subsection (4)(a) or (b).

Part: VII OFFENCES AND EVIDENCE 30/06/1997




Section: 30 Offences and penalties 30/06/1997


Any person who-
(a) having been summoned by an inquiry committee to attend as a witness or to produce a document or

other thing under section 24 without reasonable excuse refuses or fails to do so;
(b) attends as a witness before an inquiry committee and, without lawful excuse, refuses or fails to answer

any question put to him by the inquiry committee;
(c) fraudulently obtains registration as a registered professional engineer for himself or any other person;
(d) obtains registration as a registered professional engineer for himself or any other person by means of

any misleading, false or fraudulent representation or statement, either orally or in writing;
(e) makes or causes to be made any falsification in the register;
(f) impersonates or falsely represents himself as being the person referred to in any certificate or

document presented to the Board or an inquiry committee in connection with its functions under this
Ordinance;

(g) falsely takes or uses any name, initials, title, addition or description implying that his name is entered
in the register;

(h) not being a registered professional engineer, knowingly permits the use of or uses in connection with
his business or profession the description-
(i) "registered professional engineer";
(ii) "registered professional engineer" with reference to a discipline;
(iii) "R.P.E.";



Cap 409 - ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 12

(iv) "R.P.E." with reference to a discipline; or
(v) initials or abbreviations of words intended to cause, or which may reasonably cause, any person

to believe that the person using them is on the register;
(i) not being on the register, advertises or represents himself as a registered professional engineer or

knowingly permits himself to be so advertised or represented;
(j) holds himself out to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong at the time of making an application for

registration when he is not so ordinarily resident,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $50000 and to imprisonment for 1 year.

Section: 31 Certificate as evidence 30/06/1997


A certificate, purporting to be signed by the Registrar, that the name of a person has or has not been entered in or
has been removed or ordered to be removed from the register shall for all purposes, without further proof, be evidence
of the facts stated in the certificate.