Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD; Chinese: 機電工程署) is a Hong Kong government department responsible for inspection and enforcement of operation and safety of many electricity and gas installations; railways and trams; lifts and escalators; amusement rides; working platforms on building sites, and many other diverse areas. The department has two main branches: Regulatory Services and Trading Services. The department falls under the purview of the Development Bureau. The incumbent Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services is Pang Yiu-hung. The two deputy directors are H. C. Lai and T. H. Tai.

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

機電工程署
Department overview
Formed	1948; 77 years ago (1948) (as Electrical and Mechanical Office)[1] 1982; 43 years ago (1982) (as Electrical and Mechanical Services Department)[1]
Preceding agencies	Electrical Office Mechanical Office Transport Office
Jurisdiction	Hong Kong
Headquarters	3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 22.326387°N 114.203949°E / 22.326387; 114.203949
Employees	5,566 (March 2019)
Annual budget	HK$1,518.4m (2020-2021)
Minister responsible	Michael Wong Wai-lun, Secretary for Development
Deputy Minister responsible	Liu Chun-san, Under Secretary for Development
Department executive	Eric Pang Yiu-hung, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services
Parent department	Development Bureau
Website	www.emsd.gov.hk

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
Head office
Traditional Chinese	機電工程署
Simplified Chinese	机电工程署
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jīdiàn Gōngchéng Shǔ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping gei1 din6 gung1 cing4 cyu5

Regulatory Services

• Railways Branch: In February 2008, the department absorbed and expanded the small Hong Kong Railway Inspectorate (HKRI) from the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB), renaming it the Railways Branch.^[2] The Railways Branch has regulatory responsibility for the railway lines operated by the MTR Corporation and the automated people mover operated by the Airport Authority in the terminal building of the Hong Kong International Airport, as well as (since the move from THB) Hong Kong Tramways and the Peak Tram. The former HKRI had been responsible for the railway lines operated by the then Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation.^[3] Its main functions are investigation of railway incidents, oversight of railway safety, assessment and approval of new railways and major modifications, and assessment and follow-up of improvement measures by railway operators. The unit consists of 14 professional and support staff.
• Electricity and Energy Efficiency Branch
• Gas & General Legislation Branch

Trading Services

There are three branches under the Trading Services and each branch is led by an assistant director.

• Engineering Services Branch 1
• Engineering Branch 2
  • General Engineering Services Division
  • Municipal Sector Division
  • Health Sector Division
• Corporate Support and Business Development Branch

Innovation and Development

In 2018, EMSD up an Interactive Learning Center in 4/F, EMSD HQ. The learning center has introduced the latest VR (Virtual reality) Learning systems for Electrical and Mechanical industry including the first LED Immersive CAVE in Hong Kong by combining the technologies of immersive VR and BIM (Building information modeling) ^[4] and the VR training system for Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Passenger Boarding Bridges.^[5]

See also

• Government departments and agencies in Hong Kong