The Executive Council endorsed the establishment of a seven-level cross-sectoral Qualifications Framework (QF) and its associated quality assurance mechanism in February 2004. The aim of establishing the QF is to facilitate life-long learning and to support manpower development in enhancing and sustaining the competitiveness of Hong Kong .

The implementation of QF is industry-based and on a phased approach. So far, thirteen industries have taken forward QF development through the formation of a respective Industry Training Advisory Committee (ITAC). The 13 industries cover Printing & Publishing, Watch & Clock, Chinese Catering, Hairdressing, Property Management, Electrical & Mechanical Services, Jewellery, Information & Communications Technology, Automotive, Beauty, Logistics, Banking and Import & Export. The ITAC is the key conduit of advice and information between the Government and the industry in implementing the vocational aspects of the QF. Its initial priorities are to develop a set of Specification of Competency Standards (SCS) for the industry, to conduct industry-wide consultation, and to promote the adoption of the QF for manpower development within the industry. With the provision of information about articulated learning pathways, all citizens will be able to plan their own roadmap for progression and achieve their career goals through lifelong learning and continuing education and training.

Voluntary in nature, the QF is a seven-level hierarchy (from the elementary Level 1 to the highest Level 7) to register quality assured qualifications covering vocational, mainstream and continuing education sectors. For the vocational sector, the development of SCS is an important first step in implementing the QF, in which the industry played a pivotal role.

The E&M ITAC was set up in January 2005, comprising 25 members, including representatives from employers and trade associations, professional bodies, employees, the representative from Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Civil Aviation Department, as well as the Education Bureau. In addition, 73 industry representatives with different specializations have contributed to the SCS development sub-committees as co-opted members. Together with the selected Professional Writer (namely VTC) and the representative from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), the whole team of ITAC members and industry experts have contributed to the successful production of the draft SCS.

The scope of E&M services is wide for the industry, the E&M ITAC identified 10 branches of its business activities, namely: Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Fire Engineering, Gas Engineering, HVAC Engineering, Lift and Escalator Engineering, Plant (Mechanical) Engineering, Plumbing Engineering, Railway E&M Engineering and Ship Repair Engineering. In drafting the SCS for each branch, the principles of forward-lookingness, practicality and sustainability were adhered to. The drafting of SCS began with an environment scan to identify the major functional areas, the manpower needs and the technology trends of the industry branch. Then job analysis was performed to set out the major job functions and the corresponding performance requirements. These specific functions and requirements are were packaged into individual Units of Competencies (UoCs), which signify the skills and knowledge required of the different tasks to be performed. These UoCs would then be assigned a QF level by reference to the Generic Level Descriptors of the QF.

With the service of the professional writer and the contributions of the industry, the E&M ITAC has completed the draft SCS for its 10 branches. The draft SCSs for the first 5 branches (Fire Engineering, Gas Engineering, HVAC Engineering, Plumbing Engineering and Railway E&M Engineering) went through industry consultation in 2008. Under the steer of the "Specification of Competency Standards (SCS)" Subcommittee of the E&M ITAC, the Professional Writer has revised the draft SCS in the light of comments collected during the consultation period. With the endorsement of E&M ITAC, the first version of SCS can now be downloaded from this website. The first version of SCS is intended for use in curriculum or programme design, human resource development, as well as competency and qualifications recognition, by stakeholders including education and training providers, HR practitioners, employees and professional bodies.

For SCS of the remaining 5 branches (Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Lift & Escalator Engineering, Plant Engineering (Mechanical) and Ship Repair Engineering), the industry-wide consultation was completed in early 2010 and the draft SCS can be downloaded from this website.