Sr Kan Fook-Yee and a number of his colleagues saw the value of a professional body for local surveyors, and the need to stimulate the development of the industry.
Prior to the establishment of the HKIS in 1984, the Britain-based Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) represented the industry in Hong Kong.
[6] In 2014 the HKIS stated that the Hong Kong government ought to establish an authority that oversees renovations of older buildings to prevent corruption and wrongful conduct.
[7] A member of either the HKIS or the RCIS may join the other organization after one year of working in Hong Kong.
The General Council and all boards and divisions are operated by volunteers from the profession and are supported by the HKIS Secretariat.