Secretary for Development to attend construction industry forum in Chengdu

The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, will lead a 220-member delegation from Hong Kong to attend the 2009 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan, on April 8 and 9.

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the 2009 Mainland and Hong Kong Construction Industry Forum, will be the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the Central People's Government, Mr Qi Ji, the Vice-Governor of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government, Ms Huang Yanrong, and Mrs Lam. It will be held on the morning of April 9.

The forum is jointly organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Development Bureau. It has been an annual event since 1997 to promote the exchange of construction technology and expertise, and to enhance co-operation between the construction industry of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

The theme of this year's forum is “Sustainable Urban Form: From Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention to Quality Construction". Speakers at the forum will include renowned experts on disaster risk prevention and reduction and earthquake matters. It is hoped that the event will provide an opportunity for the construction industry on the Mainland and in Hong Kong to share their experiences and explore new ideas for rendering the best support to the reconstruction works in the Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas.

The forum will feature three interactive discussion sessions, “Lessons learnt from disaster”, “Disaster risk prevention and reduction” and “Quality construction”. The Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Mak Chai-kwong, will deliver a concluding speech at the end of the discussions.

The Hong Kong delegation will comprise government officials,  professionals and senior executives from the construction industry, trade associations, professional institutes, as well as tertiary education institutes.

The Hong Kong delegation will also take the opportunity to visit the reconstruction projects in Dujiangyan, Deyang and Mianyang on April 10 and 11.

On the first day of her visit on April 8, Mrs Lam will attend a ceremony to sign the Project Co-operation Arrangements (PCA) for Provincial Road 303 (Yingxiu to Wolong section) and the Master Planning Study of Wolong Nature Reserve projects with the Sichuan authorities. These two projects are among the 20 undertaken by the HKSAR to support the first stage reconstruction works in the Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas.

The Letters of Intent of these two projects were signed last October.  The PCA will set out in detail the project scope, estimates, planning and technical standards, programme, payment milestones as well as arrangements in respect of project management, disbursement of project funds, procurement, and supervision.  The signing of the PCAs will ensure efficient and effective use of the project funds.

Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong on April 10.




Ends/Friday, April 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:20

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