HK officials to study partnership projects in Britain

A group of 28 officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will visit Britain from April 18-29 to study public private partnership projects.

They will meet government officials, clients and customers in Britain to gain a deeper understanding of the delivery of public services through partnerships, and will draw on their experiences in considering partnership programs in Hong Kong, according to a press release of the government information office on Sunday.

Since early 1990s, Britain has been using partnerships to deliver many large-scale infrastructure projects and services. It has almost 700 signed partnership projects with a combined capital value of about 40 billion pounds, probably greater than the rest of the world combined.

The visit is co-organized by the Efficiency Unit, the British Consulate in Hong Kong and the Department of Trade and Investment of Britain.

Led by Efficiency Unit Head Duncan Pescod, the group comprises 28 directorate grade officers and senior professional civil servants, from 20 policy bureaux and departments.

The delegation will attend a two-day seminar in London and hold meetings with officials at central, regional and municipal levels. There will have discussions with British companies involved in partnership projects.

Participants will also visit facilities covering water and sewage treatment, waste management, prisons and fire services.

Source: Xinhua