ENG-2004 — Page 276

230 Land, Public Works and Utilities

enterprises in Hong Kong and the Mainland to promote Hong Kong's construction and related engineering professional services in the Mainland. In the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) implemented on January 1, commitments were secured for Hong Kong contractors and consultants to establish their business operations in the Mainland. In the Supplementary Agreement to CEPA signed on October 27, additional commitments were secured for the construction and related engineering services sector, including the extension of application of certificate for undertaking a single construction project, the recognition of construction performance outside the Mainland for application of a qualification certificate, the cancellation of the residency requirement for engineering technical staff and financial managerial staff in the Mainland and the cancellation of the restriction on the proportion of Hong Kong permanent residents employed as project managers.

In 2004, the ETWB jointly organised one conference and two seminars in the Mainland with the Ministry of Construction, Chongqing Municipal Construction Commission (CMCC) and Tianjin Construction Administration Committee for their construction industries. These have promoted the exchange of knowledge among professionals and provided an excellent platform for construction enterprises of the two places to explore market opportunities, establish cooperation and cultivate business networks. The ETWB and the CMCC signed a Cooperation Agreement on Construction and Related Engineering Services in October 2004 to strengthen the cooperation between both sides in various areas, including exchange of information, professional training and business cooperation.

The ETWB has been making every endeavour to encourage and facilitate discussions on mutual recognition of the construction-related professions between the local professional institutes and their Mainland counterparts. Following the signing of the mutual recognition agreement for estate surveyors, the mutual recognition agreements for architects and structural engineers were signed in February and August 2004 respectively. The drafting of the mutual recognition agreements for quantity surveyors and planners has been completed while discussions are ongoing for geotechnical engineers, electrical engineers, construction supervising engineers, landscape architects and land surveyors. Separately, under the Supplementary Agreement to CEPA signed on October 27, eligible Hong Kong residents would be allowed to take part in a number of professional qualification examinations related to the construction and engineering services, thus opening another route for the local professionals to acquire the relevant Mainland qualifications, thereby facilitating them to work in the Mainland.

Organisational Framework

The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works is responsible for the delivery of public works projects in a cost-effective manner and the formulation of policies on slope safety, water supply, flood control and construction site safety. The Secretary also oversees, and has policy responsibility for the activities of the six Works Departments - Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department (formed on July 1 upon the amalgamation of the former