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The Housing Authority would expedite construction and maintenance projects to create employment opportunities in the face of challenges brought about by the financial tsunami while continuing its mission to provide public rental housing to low-income families, the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng said today (December 15) at a ground-breaking ceremony in Tin Ching Estate, Tin Shui Wai.
Officiating at the ceremony which marked the start of construction of an Amenity and Community Building for social welfare and community services in Tin Shui Wai, Ms Cheng said the construction of public housing development projects and various maintenance programmes would result in about 8,000 jobs being offered to the construction industry in 2008-09, which would be increased to 10,000 in 2009-10.
Total costs are estimated to be $7.7 billion in 2008-09 and $9.8 billion in 2009-10.
Construction of the Tin Ching Amenity and Community Building project would immediately bring about 200 job opportunities to the construction industry and create more than 200 job vacancies of various disciplines upon its completion at the end of 2010.
The building is the sixth of its kind built by the Housing Authority to cater for the need of residents in Tin Shui Wai.
The site, originally planned for open carpark in Tin Ching Estate, was converted for the construction of the six-storey amenity and community building in response to requests from a number of voluntary organisations for more accommodation space for their operation in Tin Shui Wai.
Upon its completion, it is expected that about 20 organisations will operate in this building complex, which has a gross area of 9,500 square metres. They would provide a wide spectrum of services to Tin Shui Wai residents, including social welfare, social health, vocational training and recruitment.
Ends/Monday, December 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:21
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