Useful exchange: Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph  Wong presents a souvenir to Hangzhou Executive Vice-mayor Sheng Jifang after their meeting.

Five professionals from Hangzhou, led by Executive Vice-mayor Sheng Jifang, arrived in Hong Kong today for a three-month exchange programme.

Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong welcomed the delegation, and updated them on civil servants' training and development opportunities here.

Hong Kong's first exchange programme with Hangzhou involves 11 departments and eight officers.

The five officers are from the Labour & Social Security Bureau, Urban Management Office, Education Bureau, Planning Bureau and Health Bureau. They will be attached to the Social Welfare, Labour, Highways, Planning and Health Departments as well as the Education & Manpower Bureau for three months under the exchange programme.

Welcoming the delegation today, Mr Wong said he was pleased that a staff exchange programme was launched with the Hangzhou Municipal Government.

"Since reunification, Hong Kong's integration with the Mainland has been strengthened and both places have seen more vigorous development," he said.

"Apart from demonstrating their professionalism in their duties, Hong Kong civil servants are expected to optimise the opportunities to enhance the interflow and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong."

Three Hong Kong civil servants will be attached to their counterparts' offices in Hangzhou in July.

Hangzhou is the third city after Shanghai and Beijing to have a staff-exchange programme with Hong Kong.

Under the agreement, five middle to senior ranking civil servants from each side may be attached to the government of the other side for three to six months each year from 2004 to 2006. This year's areas of exchange will cover urban development, labour, health and education.