The newly formed Planning and Development Divisional Council (the "Council") held its first meeting on 11 January 2010. The primary objectives of the Council will be to enhance communication and cohesion of all members within the Planning and Development Division (the "PDD") as well as to promote the Division's professionalism and external recognition. This year, the Council is going to organise not less thanfive CPD events on various topics concerning landuseplanning and property development. Moreover, we are prepared to arrange technical visits to Guangzhou or other Asian cities for our continued learning process. To facilitate further development of proper connection with our counterpart in the Mainland China, the Council has planned to visit the relevant government authorities and professional bodies in Beijing later this year. Certainly, we shall let members have more details of our activities through this column. Prior to the first Council Meeting, a PDD Accreditation Working Group led by Mr Edwin Tsang, our Immediate Past Chairman, together with Mr Francis Lau Tak and Mr Francis Lam had paid an official visit to the Building and Real Estate Department of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 17 December 2009 evening. The Working Group exchanged views with the Department's Associate. Head Professor Albert Chan, Scheme Chair Dr YHChiang and Dr KK Lo on the course content of the BSc(Hons) Course in Real Estate with a view to facilitating thegrant of the Division's accreditation on the course. Theafore said discussion was very useful and the Working Group will make its recommendation to the HKIS Board of Education shortly. On 9 January 2010, Mr Edwin Tsang represented the Division to attend a forum coorganised by the Urban Renewal Authority and the Development Bureau at the Noah's Ark, Ma Wan. It wasa good opportunity for us to understand and share ourviews with other stakeholders in the community regardingthe urban renewal strategy review. As a member of FIG (International Federation ofSurveyors), the HKIS has prepared to send a delegationled by the Vice President to attend the FIG WorldCongress 2010 to be held in Sydney from 11-15 April2010. In this connection, PDD Council has agreed tonominate Mr Edwin Tsang (the Immediate Past Chairman)to join the HKIS delegation. In particular, it is our primary objective that the Division's professional enhancementand external recognition could be advocated through MrTsang's participation in the events of FIG Commission8: Spatial Planning and Development. We very muchhope that, through our active engagement in FIG, our Division's international linkage will be enhanced. Thanks to the effort of our Vice Chairman, Mr James Pong, we have already invited Dr Chan Lai Kiu, Directorof Design and Project of the Hysan Development Company Limited to deliver a CPD talk on "Adding Valuethrough Design" in late March/early April. More details ofthis CPD talk will be announced by the HKIS Secretariatin due course. Lastly, on behalf of the Council, may I extend our best wishes to all our members for the Year 2010. My fellow Council Members and I are looking forward to your valuable contributions so that 2010 will be a year of great achievements for the Planning and Development Division.