The Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, called on practitioners and businessmen in the UK construction industry to support and participate in infrastructure development in Hong Kong.
Mrs Lam was speaking to the industry players at a reception in London yesterday (September 29, London time) hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London at the Institution of Civil Engineers.
In a presentation entitled "The New Era of Infrastructure Development in Hong Kong", she outlined the history of infrastructure development in Hong Kong and introduced the 10 major infrastructure projects taken forward by the Government, including cross-border infrastructure, enhancing domestic transport links and new urban development areas.
With many of the projects entering their construction peaks, the capital works expenditure in each of the next few years would be at an all-time high of over HK$50 billion.
Mrs Lam impressed upon the audience that the Hong Kong SAR Government was fully committed to creating a quality city life for the people of Hong Kong through continued investment in various projects, including further improving slope safety, upgrading waterworks infrastructure, preventing flooding, regenerating old urban areas, assuring building safety, optimising use of industrial buildings, promoting green buildings, facilitating low-carbon living and enhancing life safety and tree safety.
The Government had also taken forward the Conserving Central projects and the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme to preserve and revitalise Hong Kong's heritage buildings, she added.
Also attending the reception were the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Wai Chi-sing, and the Director General of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, Mrs Agnes Allcock.
Earlier in the afternoon, Mrs Lam called on the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr Liu Xiaoming. Tomorrow, she will attend lunch with the Hong Kong Association to update members on Hong Kong's latest development and speak at a dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Executives Club. She will also visit the Heatherwick Studio and receive a briefing from the Olympic Delivery Authority on the planning and project management of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Ends/Thursday, September 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:09
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