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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to Sichuan in the evening of February 28 to inspect the reconstruction projects funded by the HKSAR in the Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas and to continue fostering Sichuan-Hong Kong co-operation, further to the HKSAR's participation in reconstructing the Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas.
The HKSAR established the Trust Fund in Support of Reconstruction in the Sichuan Earthquake Stricken Areas in the aftermath of the Wenchuan Earthquake of May 12, 2008, and injected $9 billion to take forward 151 HKSAR Government-led reconstruction projects and 32 non-governmental organisation reconstruction projects in Sichuan. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also set aside $1 billion to support seven reconstruction projects. The Chief Secretary for Administration is tasked with overseeing and co-ordinating the HKSAR's efforts in support of the reconstruction in Sichuan earthquake-stricken areas. High-level meetings with Sichuan provincial government officials are held about once a year to monitor the progress of the HKSAR's reconstruction projects and conduct on-site inspections.
While in Sichuan, Mrs Lam will meet with senior officials of the Sichuan Provincial Government and witness the signing of two Sichuan-Hong Kong co-operation agreements regarding continued collaboration in the Wolong Nature Reserve and in sports. In addition, she will officiate at the plaque unveiling ceremony of the Giant Panda Conservation and Disease Control Centre in Dujiangyan and the completion ceremony of the Sichuan-Hong Kong Rehabilitation Centre. Mrs Lam will also visit the Sichuan Hong Kong Jockey Club Olympic School.
Members of the HKSAR Government delegation include the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Raymond Tam; the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man; the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Ms Chang King-yiu; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Wai Chi-sing; and the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung.
Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the morning of March 2. During her absence, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, will act as Chief Secretary for Administration.
Ends/Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:31
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