Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan today visited the Government Laboratory to learn more about the department's work.

Mr Tse received a briefing on the laboratory's major work which includes providing analytical, investigatory and advisory services to support the work of bureaus and departments in law and order, public health and safety, environmental protection, government revenue and consumers' interests.

He then paid a visit to the Analytical & Advisory Services Division which provides examination services and expert advice regarding food safety, environmental pollution, waste discharge and other aspects for investigative, analytic and evaluation purposes to protect public health.

The environment chief proceeded to the Forensic Science Division's Controlled Drugs Sections and gained a better understanding of how staff assist law enforcement agencies by providing controlled drug examination services, intelligence information and statistics on abused drugs and related training to law enforcement officers.

At the Physical Sciences Section, he was briefed on the services to law enforcement agencies on forensic work in the areas of physical examinations such as traffic accident reconstructions and forensic video analysis.

Mr Tse said that the laboratory has all along been providing the community with professional analytical, forensic and advisory services.

He was also pleased to learn that to meet the rapid technological advancements in recent years, the department has been broadening the scope of service provision, strengthening the expertise of professional staff, putting forward measurement science and related standards, developing new inspection techniques and introducing high-efficiency modern scientific instruments.

Mr Tse encouraged laboratory staff to continue to enhance their services.

With the increasing local demand for analytical and forensic testing services, the Government plans to centralise most of the laboratory's facilities in different locations by relocating them to the proposed joint-user government building in Tseung Kwan O, with the aim of tackling the department's challenges in arranging work spaces and installing new instruments.

Mr Tse expects the relocation will enable better consolidation of resources and create a synergistic effect which will further strengthen the laboratory's testing capabilities and operation efficiency.