Public-private partnership projects have a stringent, open, and competitive procurement process with selection based on merit and value to ensure no business collusion.

This was the message today from the Efficiency Unit's deputy head David Pao, saying there are stipulations on the required project outcomes, and contractor performance is monitored throughout the contract. The projects are different from privatisation, he said, which involve the permanent transfer of ownership.

He was addressing over 400 civil servants and non-government organisation representatives at a seminar at Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, to provide a basic understanding of key public-private partnership concepts like risk allocation, project financing, legal issues, and establishing a business case.

As more civil servants and NGOs become involved in these projects, they need to be suitably equipped, he said. A similar seminar held in July was heavily over-subscribed. This seminar was organised to meet the unfulfilled demand.

The unit organises training seminars for civil servants on different aspects of public-private partnerships and outsourcing. Since April last year, 12 seminars have been held for 1,500 civil servants.