ENG-2005 — Page 263

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requirement on the number of Hong Kong professionals with Mainland qualifications needed to set up a business on the Mainland - were secured for the construction and related engineering services sector under the Supplement II to CEPA signed on 18 October 2005.

During the year, as part of its ongoing promotion of Hong Kong's construction industry and related services, the bureau jointly organised a conference on construction in Xian with the MoC and a seminar during the '2005 Hebei-Hong Kong Week' in Shijiazhang with the Hebei Construction Department. In Hong Kong, the 'Forum on the Exchange and Cooperation between the Construction Industry of the Mainland and Hong Kong' in December was jointly organised with the University of Hong Kong. Mr Huang Wei, the Vice-Minister of the MoC was invited as the guest of honour.

The ETWB continued to maintain close contact with the MoC and relevant local and Mainland professional bodies to facilitate mutual recognition of professional qualifications. After the successful signing of the mutual recognition agreements for estate surveyors, architects and structural engineers, planners and quantity surveyors from the Mainland and Hong Kong also signed similar agreements in May. Discussions have also started on mutual recognition for geotechnical engineers, electrical engineers, construction supervising engineers, building services engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects.

In April, the bureau signed a secondment training plan with the Shenzhen Construction Bureau and the Shenzhen Works Bureau to second some of its architectural and civil engineering graduates to participate in a three-month training programme in Shenzhen. This will not only improve their prospects in the future in both the Mainland and Hong Kong but also promote exchange and cooperation in the training of professionals. The first batch of graduates successfully completed their training in July. The bureau is planning to extend the programme to other disciplines as well as to other Mainland cities.

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, construction site safety and greening. The Secretary also oversees, and has policy responsibility for the activities of the six Works Departments Architectural Services Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department, Drainage Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Highways Department and Water Supplies Department. In addition, the Secretary oversees the operation of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund.

The Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands is supported by the Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Planning and Lands) who oversees the operation of four departments: the Buildings Department, Lands Department, Planning Department and Land Registry. He also oversees part of the work of the Civil