The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (November 29) visited the Government Laboratory to learn more about the department's work and meet with staff.
Upon arrival at the Government Laboratory Headquarters, Mr Tse first met with the Government Chemist, Dr Lee Wai-on, and the directorate staff of the department to receive a briefing on the laboratory's major work which includes providing analytical, investigatory and advisory services to support bureaux and departments' work in law and order, public health and safety, environmental protection, government revenue and consumers' interests.
Accompanied by Dr Lee, Mr Tse then paid a visit to the Analytical and Advisory Services Division to learn more about their work and current challenges. The Division provides examination services and expert advice regarding food safety, environmental pollution, waste discharge and other aspects for investigative, analytic and evaluation purposes to protect public health.
Later, Mr Tse proceeded to the Controlled Drugs Sections of the Forensic Science Division and gained a better understanding on how their professional staff assist law enforcement agencies by providing comprehensive controlled drug examination services, intelligence information and statistics on abused drugs and related training to law enforcement officers. At the Physical Sciences Section, he was briefed on their services to law enforcement agencies on forensic work in the areas of physical examinations such as traffic accident reconstructions and forensic video analysis.
Mr Tse said that the laboratory has all along been providing the community with professional analytical, forensic and advisory services. He was pleased to learn that to meet the rapid technological advancements in recent years, the department has been broadening the scope of service provision, strengthening the expertise of professional staff, putting forward measurement science and related standards, developing new inspection techniques and introducing high-efficiency modern scientific instruments. He praised colleagues for their dedicated efforts and encouraged them to continue to enhance their services.
With the increasing local demand for analytical and forensic testing services, the Government plans to centralise most of the laboratory's facilities in different locations by relocating them to the proposed joint-user government building in Tseung Kwan O with the aim of tackling the department's challenges in arranging work spaces and installing new instruments. Mr Tse expects that the relocation will enable better consolidation of resources and create a synergistic effect which will further strengthen the laboratory's testing capabilities and operation efficiency.
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