Land, Public Works and Utilities 1 215
The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (ETWB) continued discussions. with stakeholders of the Hong Kong construction industry and the Ministry of Construction (MoC) on the fourth phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Further market liberalisation measures were secured under Supplement III to CEPA signed on June 27. With the new agreement, Hong Kong service suppliers are allowed to set up wholly-owned construction engineering cost consulting enterprises on the Mainland and their project performance in both places will be recognised for business establishment purposes. In June, ETWB jointly organised with the MoC and the Ministry of Commerce a CEPA Forum in Hong Kong to publicise the CEPA policy, implementation arrangements and issues related to professional qualifications.
During the year, as part of its ongoing promotion of Hong Kong's construction. industry and related services, ETWB organised a large-scale conference on construction in Urumqi with the MoC. In April, the bureau supported the Hong Kong Construction Association and the China International Contractors Association to organise a seminar in Hong Kong for the contractors of the two places to enhance mutual understanding in preparation for further business collaboration. In June, the bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore organised a study mission for the construction industry of Hong Kong and the Mainland to visit the Philippines and Cambodia to explore together business opportunities there.
ETWB continued to maintain close contact with the MoC and relevant local and Mainland professional bodies to facilitate mutual recognition of professional qualifications. Subsequent to the signing of mutual recognition agreements for estate surveyors, architects, structural engineers, planners and quantity surveyors, building surveyors also signed similar agreements in June.
The bureau continued to organise with the Shenzhen Construction Bureau and the Shenzhen Works Bureau the Mainland secondment training programme for its graduates. The second batch of its architectural and civil engineering graduates completed successfully a three-month training course in Shenzhen in August. Both sides agreed to extend the programme gradually to other construction related disciplines. The first batch of quantity surveying and structural engineering graduates commenced training in Shenzhen in November. To further promote exchange and cooperation in the training of professionals, the bureau is planning to extend the programme to other Mainland cities.
Planning for Hong Kong
Strategic town planning provides an important framework for the future. development of Hong Kong. To this end, the Government is finalising the Hong Kong 2030 Study which will provide a planning framework for the longer-term development of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Government maintains close liaison with the Guangdong authorities on planning matters under the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Joint Conference. To strengthen the physical connection between Hong Kong and Shenzhen to tie in with the economic and infrastructural development of both places,
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