Snapshots -
Helmeted and soldiers on ...

Fancy the idea of wearing a helmet and having a meeting at a construction site? This is one of the routines of our EO colleague, Mr Patrick LAM, an Assistant Staff Officer of the Planning and Development Division, Urban Services Department.

Patrick (the one in white helmet) was having a site meeting with the project architect at a Tang Dynasty style Chinese Garden neighbouring the Chi Lin Monastic Complex (志蓮淨苑). This is a major Provisional Urban Council project with the Chi Lin Nunnery as the entrusted works agent.

The Staff Officers of the Division serve as the project co-ordinators of development projects and work with a wide variety of counterparts including architects, town planners, health inspectors, amenities officers, cultural services managers, curators, librarians etc. Their negotiation and communication skills are put to full use in taking care of the diversified requirements and concerns of different parties which also include the Council, the District Boards and members of the public. So, they do not just need a helmet, they need a full armour to soldier on.

Planning and development has been an established stream of EO jobs. Here are some figures of three large departments-