ENG-2009 — Page 296

232 | Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Up to the end of 2009, 5 044 applications for registration in the Voluntary Subcontractor Registration Scheme were received and 4 457 were approved.

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 2009, there were about 268 000 registered construction workers, among whom 99 000 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 seventh phase of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Under Supplement VI to CEPA signed between the Mainland and Hong Kong in May 2009, the Mainland side committed to continuing its recognition of Hong Kong Project Managers employed by Hong Kong-invested construction enterprises for the purpose of qualification assessment of such enterprises, until promulgation of new 'Standards for the Qualifications of Construction Enterprises'. In addition, the two sides agreed to move ahead with their work on mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Mainland Supervision Engineers and Hong Kong Building Engineers as well as the recognition of Hong Kong Architects in obtaining the qualification as Mainland Supervision Engineers.

The bureau continued to second graduate trainees of its Graduate Training Scheme to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chongqing for training. In 2009, a total of 10 graduate trainees of architectural, landscape architectural, civil engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and quantity surveying disciplines. completed their three-month secondment training in those cities.

Websites

Development Bureau: www.devb.gov.hk

Planning and Lands Branch: www.devb-plb.gov.hk

Works Branch: www.devb-wb.gov.hk