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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong for Langkawi, Malaysia, this afternoon (April 11) to attend the 4th International UNESCO Conference on Geoparks 2010.
Tomorrow (April 12), Mr Yau will have a breakfast meeting with Dr Patrick Mckeever, an Irish geologist, to exchange views on nature conservation.
He will then attend the opening ceremony and keynote sessions of the 4th International UNESCO Conference on Geoparks 2010.
In the afternoon, Mr Yau will give a presentation at the conference sessions on Hong Kong's preparation for the global geopark application.
The conference is held every two years to discuss geoheritage and geoparks development. Themes of this year's conference include tourism, sustainable development and conservation of geoparks.
Mr Yau will host a dinner for the Deputy Director, Department of Geological Environment of the Ministry of Land and Resources, Ms Chen Xiaoning, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
On Tuesday (April 13) morning, Mr Yau will visit Langkawi's geosites. Langkawi is an island geopark comprising 99 islands. The Lankawi Geopark, established in May 2006, is the first geopark in Malaysia. Mr Yau will depart for Singapore in the afternoon.
On Wednesday (April 14), Mr Yau will call on the Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, Ms Zhang Xiaokang, in the morning and then will visit a bio-methanisation plant to see how energy is produced from organic waste.
Mr Yau will also attend a lunch hosted by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources of Singapore, Dr Amy Khor.
Before returning to Hong Kong in the evening, Mr Yau will visit Mapletree Business City to learn more about Singapore's experience in developing green buildings.
Ends/Sunday, April 11, 2010
Issued at HKT 13:01
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