Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau will attend the 4th International UNESCO Conference on Geoparks 2010 in Langkawi, Malaysia - a biennial conference to discuss geoheritage and geoparks development.

Themes of this year's conference include tourism, sustainable development and conservation of geoparks.

Tomorrow, Mr Yau will have a breakfast meeting with Irish geologist Dr Patrick Mckeever, to exchange views on nature conservation. He will then attend the UNESCO conference's opening ceremony and keynote sessions.

In the afternoon, Mr Yau will give a presentation at the conference sessions on Hong Kong's preparation for the global geopark application.

Mr Yau will host a dinner for the Ministry of Land & Resources' Department of Geological Environment's Deputy Director Chen Xiaoning, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

On Tuesday, Mr Yau will visit Langkawi's geosites. Langkawi, Malaysia's first geopark, was established in May 2006 and is made up of 99 islands.

Mr Yau will depart for Singapore on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday morning, he will call on China's Ambassador to Singapore Zhang Xiaokang, and then visit a bio-methanisation plant to see how energy is produced from organic waste.

He will also attend a lunch hosted by the Singapore's Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Amy Khor.

Before returning to Hong Kong on Wednesday evening, Mr Yau will visit Mapletree Business City to learn more about Singapore's experience in developing green buildings.