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The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, will leave for a three-day visit to Singapore tomorrow afternoon (November 12) to discuss with senior officials and business executives the latest housing and transport developments in the city-state.
The trip will allow Hong Kong and Singapore to share experiences in planning for public housing and taking forward key transport infrastructure projects and logistics development.
During the visit from November 12 to 14, Ms Cheng will meet senior officials of the Lion City's housing and transport authorities, including the Housing Development Board, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the Land Transport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. She will call on Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Madam Zhang Xiaokang, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, in addition to meeting Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Education.
Ms Cheng will also address a luncheon co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the Hong Kong-Singapore Business Association (HSBA). Established in 1994, the HSBA provides a platform for networking among the business communities of Hong Kong and Singapore.
The briefing to be given to Ms Cheng by Singapore's Housing Development Board officials will focus on the city-state's public housing policies, development and design. It will be followed by visits to families in Toa Payoh Town, where the Hong Kong housing and transport chief will be shown apartments designed for different family needs.
Ms Cheng's visit to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will include a site tour of Tuas Checkpoint and demonstration of its clearance systems for travellers, baggage and cargo. Her itinerary also includes a visit to the city-state's leading port operator PSA International and a tour of its Pasir Panjang Terminal.
At the meeting with Land Transport Authority officials, Ms Cheng will be briefed on Singapore's public transport infrastructure plans and development. The three-day programme will conclude with a tour of and briefing on the operation of the Logistics Park and Terminal 3 in Changi Airport.
Accompanying Ms Cheng to Singapore will be Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing), Ms Annette Lee.
Ends/Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:42
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