In this Session, the Panel held three meetings to discuss various issues regarding professional practice and Reciprocal Recognition Agreement (RRA) Examination between Class I Registered Structural Engineers on the Mainland and members of the Structural Discipline. The Panel Chairman has also represented the Structural Discipline in attending the Q & M Board meetings to provide professional input on behalf of the Discipline.

The RRA Examination was held in Guangzhou from 14 to 16 December 2007. 75 members of the Structural Discipline have taken the joint assessment examination. The passing rate was about 95%.

The Panel Chairman, together with the Director of Qualifications cum Registrar of the HKIE, met the Director General of the National Administration Board of Engineering Registration (Structural) on 19 February 2008 in Shenzhen. The meeting was to discuss the RRA Examination results for 2007 and the arrangement of the 4th RRA Examination. It was agreed that the forthcoming RRA examination would be held from 18 to 21 September 2008 in Guangzhou. As the RRA agreement was obtained under the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), it is expected that the RRA Examination 2008 would be the last one under the current CEPA. Members of the Structural Discipline with not less than five years of post-qualification experience have been strongly recommended to take the examination in September 2008 to become a qualified Class I Registered Structural Engineer of the People’s Republic of China if they have not yet done so.