Major bridge project achieves milestone

The Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong on September 17 signed an agreement for the detailed design of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) Reclamation Works, signifying the project has reached a new stage.

The HKBCF artificial island will have a reclaimed area of approximately 150 hectares to provide mainly for passenger clearance and cargo processing facilities, including 20 hectares required for the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL). Detailed design and ground investigation will follow the completion of the preliminary design.

The bridge is of particular strategic importance to the further economic development of Hong Kong, Macao and the Western Pearl River Delta region. Apart from HKBCF, projects related to the bridge also include the Hong Kong Link Road, the TM-CLKL and the Tuen Mun Western Bypass. These projects will enable the formation of a road network linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Macao and Shenzhen, thereby further enhancing the transportation and aviation hub status of Hong Kong.

The HKBCF reclamation works are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2010.

Trade council chairman reappointed

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced September 4 that Chief Executive Donald Tsang re-appointed Jack So as chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) for two years, effective October 1.

The Chief Executive said Mr. So has done an exemplary job in leading the TDC in promoting Hong Kong's external trade and in providing timely assistance for small- and medium-sized enterprises during the economic downturn.

“Under Mr. So’s guidance, the TDC has helped Hong Kong products and services penetrate the Mainland and other emerging markets. The TDC has organized successful consumer fairs in Mainland cities and business missions to emerging markets to help Hong Kong enterprises tap these markets. The recent completion of the Atrium Link Extension of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre has added 19,400 square meters of exhibition space, providing relief for exhibitors waiting for years to participate in our world-class trade shows. Such efforts are vital for our trade at a time when demands from our traditional markets are just beginning to recover.

“I am confident that Mr. So will continue to lead the TDC in creating opportunities in global trade in both goods and services for Hong Kong companies and in promoting a positive image of Hong Kong internationally,” Mr. Tsang said.
Mr. So was first appointed TDC chairman in 2007.

OFTA accredits local certification bodies

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) has accredited four local certification bodies (LCBs) to provide a full range of equipment testing and certification services, following the worldwide trend to rely on the private sector to conduct such services.

Beginning October 1, testing and certification services, which have been provided by OFTA up to now, will be transferred to the accredited LCBs.

“This is also in line with the government’s policy of promoting and developing the testing and certification industry, which is one of the six economic areas recommended by the Task Force on Economic Challenges chaired by the Chief Executive,” said an OFTA spokesman. “The provision of communications equipment testing/certification services by accredited LCBs will help promote the development of the local industry and provide a wider choice of LCBs to the telecommunications industry.”

OFTA will continue to monitor the certification process and the LCBs’ performance on a regular basis.

Under the arrangement, the accredited LCBs will provide on a non-exclusive basis a full range of testing and certification services that matches OFTA’s offerings. In addition, the LCBs’ certification fees will match OFTA’s during the first year of operation.