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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, began her visit to Singapore today (July 31). She met with government officials to understand more about the population policy of Singapore, attended a lunch gathering with people from Hong Kong and visited the Institute of Technical Education and the Old Parliament House.
In the morning, Mrs Lam visited the National Museum of Singapore, which is a cultural and architectural landmark in Singapore, to learn about its collection and cultural programmes.
At noon, Mrs Lam attended a lunch gathering with Hong Kong people living and working in Singapore. She briefed them on the latest developments in Hong Kong and encouraged them to contribute to a closer relationship between Hong Kong and Singapore.
In the afternoon, Mrs Lam met with the Permanent Secretary of the National Population and Talent Division of the Prime Minister's Office, Mr Niam Chiang Meng. The National Population and Talent Division drives the co-ordination and implementation of various population policies in Singapore. Mrs Lam then visited the Institute of Technical Education, which is the principal provider of career and technical education as well as the key developer of national occupational skills certification and standards in Singapore.
"With the ageing population and shrinking workforce in Hong Kong, it is important to plan in advance so as to better prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead, including finding ways to better utilise existing manpower resources through productivity enhancement. Career and vocational training is one of the ways to help enhance the productivity of our workforce," Mrs Lam said.
Mrs Lam also visited the Old Parliament House, also known as the Arts House. The 200-year-old building was Singapore's first Parliament House and was revitalised and transformed into an arts venue in 2004.
Mrs Lam then visited the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Singapore to see their operation.
Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Singapore tomorrow (August 1), meeting senior officials and visiting public housing and a cruise centre.
Ends/Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:31
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