Press Release - May 17, 2004

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (KETO) today (May 17) welcomed the signing of the agreement yesterday between the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers (HKIE) and the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) to mutually recognize each other�s individual professional engineers.

The mutual recognition agreement between HKIE and CCPE was signed yesterday at the CCPE�s Annual General Meeting held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Representing HKIE at the signing were the President of HKIE, Dr. Alex Chan and the Institute Secretary, Mrs. Monica Yuen.

Under the agreement, members of the HKIE would be eligible to become licensed engineers in Canada if they pass an examination or interview on local law and practice and demonstrate that they have obtained one year of experience equivalent to those obtained in Canada.

The HKETO Director, Mr. Bassanio So, said: �This agreement is a welcomed move to foster closer economic ties between Hong Kong and Canada as it facilitates the movement of professional engineers between Hong Kong and Canada. This is vital to Hong Kong in its role to be the gateway for Canadian engineering companies to enter Mainland China.

�It is an encouraging boost to the already close ties between Hong Kong and Canada not only in economic and trades but also in the field of professionalism. We look forward to fruitful co-operations and exchanges between engineers in Hong Kong and Canada towards the common good of the two communities.�

For further information, please contact John Tam, Chief Information Officer at (416) 924-5544, email [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, [email protected]