RICS International Governing Council Meeting
Fit for the Future – A Grand Transformation for the
Property, Land and Construction
28-29 March, Beijing, China PR
![Click picture for bigger format](http://fig.netwww.fig.net/news/archive/news_2012/beijing_march_2012/rics_1_600.jpg) RICS Global President
SeeLian Ong (L), President CheeHai
Teo
and RICS Chief Executive Sean Tomkins. |
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS a member association
of FIG made history by having its International Governing Council Meeting in
Beijing, China PR, the first meeting ever outside Europe. Together with this
historic event, an international conference was convened. The conference at
JW Marriott Beijing had participants deliberating and discussing the
profession’s fitness for the future, the theme of the two-day event.
The conference was officiated by HE Mr. Sebastian Wood, CMG, the
British Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. The conference had a
number of sessions including lively panel discussions covering economy,
property investment, investment infrastructure, property market outlooks,
affordable housing, valuation standards as well as issues related to
urbanization and building cities of the future, impact of technologies and
innovation and that of land tenure and the vibrant land market.
President CheeHai Teo shared his views on global land tenure
challenges as well as responses within the area of land rights and
responsibilities. In the ensuing panel discussion, the issue of property
taxation came to the fore as well the desire for a national land
registration system. President CheeHai Teo opined that any system so
designed must aim to provide security of tenure rights, accommodate a
variety of tenure rights, provide clarity and certainty that leads to
efficiency in the delivery system, and thus a vibrant land and property
market.
At the two-day event, the FIG President took the opportunity to meet and
engage many within the RICS leadership including President SeeLian Ong,
Secretary General Robert Mahoney, President-elect Allan Collett,
Senior Vice President Michael Newey and Vice President Louise
Brooke-Smith as well as RICS Chief Executive Sean Tomkins.
At the closing of the conference, in addressing the theme, RICS Global
President, SeeLian Ong stressed the importance of standards,
sustainability and a strategic mindset.
CheeHai Teo FIG President April 2012
![Click picture for bigger format](http://fig.netwww.fig.net/news/archive/news_2012/beijing_march_2012/rics_2_600.jpg)
CheeHai Teo (L), Past President of the Chartered Institute of
Building, Prof Li Shi-rong, SeeLian Ong, RICS
Vice-President Louise Brooke-Smith (R) |
20 April 2012
|