Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn today began a visit to Beijing by calling on the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security.

This morning, Ms Linn called on National Cultural Heritage Administration Deputy Administrator Qiao Yunfei. They discussed the organisation of artefact exhibitions, youth exchange activities and talent training, as well as research on antiquities, nominations for World Heritage status, and the application of technology in heritage conservation.

Ms Linn then called on the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development, and briefed a team led by Vice Minister Qin Haixiang on developments in Hong Kong’s construction sector.

The two parties exchanged views on the application of technology to reduce construction costs and enhance productivity, and on promoting the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Construction Standards.

They also spoke about leveraging Hong Kong’s certification system and high degree of internationalism in the development of Modular Integrated Construction and other innovative construction technologies, and about the rehabilitation and redevelopment of old buildings.

Afterwards, Ms Linn and her delegation had lunch with Minister Ni Hong, and compared experiences of construction and urban development in both places.

In the afternoon, Ms Linn met Human Resources & Social Security Vice Minister Yu Jiadong to exchange views on talent development in the construction industry.

Topics discussed included integrating Hong Kong construction professionals into the Mainland’s “Professional Title” evaluation mechanism, mutual recognition of various professional qualifications between the Mainland and Hong Kong, formulating Greater Bay Area skill standards and implementing the “One Examination, Multiple Certification” arrangement for skilled technicians and workers in the construction sector.

Ms Linn thanked the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security for their strong support of the long-term development of Hong Kong’s construction industry.

She also expressed hope that the construction and engineering sectors of the Mainland and Hong Kong can deepen exchanges and co-operation to jointly promote the high-quality development of the bay area’s construction industry, and to establish Hong Kong as an international infrastructure centre.

The development chief later joined participants on a study tour looking at national water infrastructure, culture and technology. Together, they visited the Tuancheng Lake Regulating Pond, a terminal on the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

She also had dinner with study tour participants and heard about their experiences.