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Construction Workers Registration
The Construction Workers Registration Authority (CWRA) continued to oversee the registration of construction workers and administration of the Construction. Workers Registration Ordinance (CWRO). Up to end of December 2010, there were about 265 000 registered construction workers, among whom 162 000 renewed their registration for the first time. Under the CWRO's phase one prohibition, in place since September 2007, workers shall not carry out construction work on construction sites unless they are registered as construction workers. The construction industry can generally meet the requirements of the ordinance.
Developments under CEPA
During the year, the Development Bureau continued discussions with stakeholders of the Hong Kong construction industry and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on the eighth phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Under Supplement VII to CEPA signed between the Mainland and Hong Kong in May 2010, the Mainland side is committed to allowing Hong Kong professionals, who have obtained Mainland's class 1 registered architect qualification or Mainland's class 1 registered structural engineer qualification, to act as partners to set up construction and engineering design offices in the Mainland in accordance with the relevant qualification requirements. In addition, Hong Kong professionals, who have obtained Mainland's class 1 registered architect qualification or Mainland's class 1 registered structural engineer qualification by mutual recognition, are allowed to register and practise in Guangdong.
The bureau continued to second graduate trainees of its Graduate Training Scheme to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chongqing for training. In 2010, a total of 12 graduate trainees of architectural, civil engineering, structural engineering and quantity surveying disciplines completed their three-month secondment training in those cities.
Websites
Development Bureau: www.devb.gov.hk