Secretary for Development Carrie Lam will visit New York City October 16 to 18 to attend an international symposium and learn about the city's urban planning and heritage conservation.

At the invitation of the city's Skyscraper Museum, Mrs Lam will speak at the plenary session of the symposium examining the relationship between vertical density and sustainable solutions in Hong Kong and New York.

The symposium will feature panel discussions and forums to be attended by building and planning professionals, academia, and developers from both cities. It has been organised in conjunction with the Vertical Cities: Hong Kong-New York exhibition, which is being held in the Skyscraper Museum until February. The exhibition uses photographs, architectural drawings, maps and models to show Hong Kong's skyscrapers and high-density development.

Mrs Lam will also visit historic buildings and significant public open spaces, including Grand Central Terminal, New York Public Library, Madison Square Park, Bryant Park and Union Square Greenmarket.

Festival celebrates Asia's world city

Mrs Lam will help promote the New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008 Festival organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York, and officiate at the lecture on Asian Arts & Culture - A New Vision: Chinese Spirit, Global Design, and at a performance by the City Contemporary Dance Company.

The festival promotes Hong Kong's creativity and economic vitality through arts exhibits, opera and dance performances and educational symposiums.