The Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Works), Mr Lo Yiu-ching, will lead a high-level delegation of over 150 members to attend a construction-trade conference in Urumqi tomorrow (September 9). The conference is jointly organised by the Ministry of Construction, the People's Government of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau.
Members of the delegation include developers, contractors, consultants, professionals of the engineering and legal sectors as well as representatives of private enterprises related to the real estate sector.
The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau and the Ministry of Construction jointly organise a large-scale conference every year since 1996.
The Hong Kong delegation is the largest in this annual event since the implementation of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, with over 150 participants from Hong Kong and over 120 from the Mainland.
The three-day conference on "Urban Infrastructure Development and Construction Market Regulation" is aimed at promoting the exchange in construction technology and expertise, and enhancing the co-operation between the construction industries in the Mainland and Hong Kong.
The conference comprises three sessions focusing on the impact of urban infrastructure development on urban planning, development and regulation of the construction market, and construction of urban infrastructure and safety management.
The Hong Kong delegation will table 34 technical papers, while the Mainland will table 14. Among the 48 papers, eight from each side will be presented in the conference.
Papers on "Striking a Balance between Urban Development and Heritage Conservation - a Case Study of Hong Kong Waterworks Installations"; and "Hong Kong Wetland Park - Beyond the Urban Fabric" will be presented by officers from the Water Supplies Department and Architectural Services Department respectively.
Upon completion of the conference on Tuesday (September 12), Mr Lo Yiu-ching will lead 25 members of the Hong Kong delegation on a study mission to Dunhuang and Chengdu, where they can see the latest development in the areas of economy, town planning, infrastructure and real estate. They will also explore opportunities for business co-operation in these areas.
Ends/Friday, September 8, 2006