The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, will lead an official delegation to Oslo from September 22 to 24 to gain an understanding of the extensive use of underground space in Norway.
The first-hand overseas information and experience gained from this visit will be beneficial for taking forward a consultancy study, currently in progress, commissioned by the Civil Engineering and Development Department to explore the wider use of underground space in Hong Kong.
Mrs Lam will meet Dr Suzanne Lacasse, Managing Director of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), to learn about geotechnical control of underground space development in Norway. The NGI is a leading international centre for geotechnical related research and specialist consulting.
She will receive a briefing by a leading Norwegian engineering and design consultancy on cavern uses and planning standards and legislation related to Scandinavian underground space development.
Mrs Lam will also meet officials of the Water and Sewerage Works of Oslo at Oset to learn about underground facilities in the city. She will visit the Oset Water Treatment complex, the National Archives at Kringsjå and the Sandvika District Heating and Cooling Plant to see the operation of these underground facilities.
During her stay in Oslo, she will meet senior Norwegian officials to update them on Hong Kong's recent developments, pay a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Norway, Mr Tang Guoqiang, and attend a reception co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (London) and the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong).
Members of the delegation will include the Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Enoch Lam, the Deputy Director of Planning, Mr Ling Kar-kan, and the Head of the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, Mr Raymond Chan.
Mrs Lam will also have a two-day official programme in London after her visit to Oslo. Joined by the Permanent Secretary for Works, Mr Wai Chi-sing, she will brief stakeholders in the British construction industry on Hong Kong's infrastructure development.
Ends/Monday, September 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:00
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