Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing and a delegation of 33 District Council chairmen and vice chairmen will leave for Shanghai on June 4. They will set off for Suzhou June 6 and return to Hong Kong June 7.

Tuen Mun District Council Chairman Lau Wong-fat and Eastern District Council Chairman Christina Ting are the leader and deputy of the delegation, while lawmaker representing the District Council functional constituency Ip Kwok-him is the honorary advisor.

The delegation will call on Shanghai and Jiangsu officials, and tour local communities and infrastructure, including the Yangshan deep-water port, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre, China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park and Suzhou Museum. A visit will also be made to World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Mr Tsang hoped the visit will enable the delegation to gain insights into developments in both Shanghai and Suzhou, which will be useful to the District Councils in the discharge of their duties in district administration.

"We hope to facilitate communication and exchanges at different levels among Shanghai, Suzhou and Hong Kong. The visit to the Shanghai Expo will also enhance the District Councils' understanding of new ideas on urban developments around the world," he added.