Well seems I am one of the more senior people in this thread. I would say that in HK civil engineer are not as specifized than those overseas. I can tell you us Chinese kicks butt in the construction and design industry in the US. We help our companies build, design and run the construction for all kinda of big projects like bridges, waste water treatment plant and power plants.
I am not saying engineers in the US are better. Just than HK and Chinese government does not provide the creative field and resource for you guys to shine. Say for example, how many structures in the Olympics were design by the Chinese. The Zhin Ma bridge was built by Korean Engineers. Why gave away money to other people when there are plenty of great people in HK and China ? Not only that , company that I am working for (one of the large company in the UK) built the HK Airport, they made a lot of money from the HK Government. Why not give it to the locals ? Bow-Tie and Wu Gin Tau can suck my wennie !!!