According to Government's recent assessment, there will be at least some 100,000 new jobs in the labour market from May 1998 to end-1999, largely as a result of the Government's key policy initiatives and major infrastructure or other projects, and partly because of the needs of the Civil Service. These 100,000 jobs comprise 11,000 civil service posts estimated to be created up to 31 March 1999, and 89,000 other jobs in the subvented and private sectors.

Of the 89,000 non-Government jobs, some 33,000 will be created by end-1998, about 31,000 during the first half of 1999 and another 25,000 during the second half of 1999.

On the basis of the latest information on major areas of job creation, some 15,000 jobs have already been created as at mid-September 1998. These 15,000 jobs include some 3,000 civil service posts which have been filled as at early July, and around 12,000 non-Government jobs which have been created as a result of various projects and measures the Government has implemented by mid-September. Some 21,000 additional jobs in the non-Government sectors are therefore expected to be created between mid-September and end-1998.

The Government is finalising a comprehensive update on this job creation assessment and this is expected to be completed in January 1999.

• Since May 1998, 177 works contracts/consultancy agreements worth a total of $10 billion have commenced and some 13,100 jobs comprising 2,100 at the professional/supervisory level and 11,000 at the operative level have been created.

• Considering the possibility of advancing some more projects.

• Started minor maintenance works worth a total of $98 million.

• 1,050 jobs created as of 1 December 1998.

• 44 temporary works supervisors have been employed since 9 November 1998 for managing the works projects and supervising the works contracts.

• Contracts for 9 projects have been awarded as at end-November 1998, creating 48 jobs.

• Metro Broadcast Co. and HKTA staged weekend events - "City of Life - Harbour Fun Carnival" on the site in October and November 1998.

• Other events are being planned to be staged on the site. Five organisations will organise activities in the coming four months, including the 33rd Hong Kong Products Expo, the Chinese New Year Parade, and the HK Lanterns and Temples Festival. Other organisers have indicated interest in staging activities such as exhibitions, carnivals, games and entertainment on the site in 1999.

• Some of the works contracts have been awarded and the rest will be awarded in batches.

• Around 2 190 new jobs for various construction trades have been created by the end of November 1998 and another 510 additional jobs are expected to be available in the forthcoming months.

• The Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) issued a press release and notice in several newspapers on 1 and 2 December 1998 respectively to invite proposals from organisations interested in running the flea market. A Government Notice was also published in the Gazette on 4 December 1998. By the close of submission period on 10 December 1998, three proposals were received. EMB is examining these proposals in consultation with other relevant departments.

• The Home Affairs Department has, in conjunction with the Labour Department, been recruiting the 3 590 Temporary Community Organisers from late November 1998 onwards. Around 3 580 applications have been received and about 940 vacancies filled so far.

Capacity of JMP doubled from 2 July 1998, with an additional team of two staff at each of the 11 Local Employment Service (LES) offices of the Labour Department.
• In November 1998, the JMP registered 1,709 registrants and arranged 10,884 job referrals. 708 placements were secured, as compared to 579 in the previous month.

• Services commenced at all 11 LES offices from 6 July 1998. In November 1998, LES received a total of 8,964 telephone calls from job-seekers seeking job referral service. 5,147 referrals were arranged.

• In November 1998, LES obtained consent from 1,584 employers involving 4,204 vacancies (i.e. 37.8% of the total number of vacancies received) to display their information at LES so that job-seekers can contact them direct for arranging job interviews. During the month, employers cancelled their open orders for a total of 1,615 vacancies. A large percentage of these vacancies are believed to have been filled by job-seekers who contacted the employers direct for job application.

• The Department will set up a Telephone Employment Service Centre in North Point by end of December 1998 with a view to further strengthening the telephone referral service. To enhance operational efficiency, a Job Vacancy Processing Centre will also be set up to centralise the receipt and processing of vacancy orders, as well as the dissemination of vacancy information to LES offices.

• Completed the installation of additional computers at all LES offices and 10 Labour Relations Service offices in October 1998.

• The Programme commenced in August 1998.

• As of 30.11.98, visits and promotional activities under this programme have reached out to 702 employers and 15,640 job-seekers.

• ERB has provided two telephone hotlines -- one for employers and the other for employees -- from 9 July 1998. Up to 30 November 1998, a total of 4,876 and 18,370 telephone enquiries respectively from employers and employees were handled and 3,105 vacancies registered.

• 3 906 potential retrainees approached the "one-stop" service team for consultation and/or submission of applications for various retraining courses. Whenever required, officer-rank staff provide in-depth information on courses available, location of training bodies and placement results of relevant retraining courses to help applicants select appropriate courses that suit their own interests and abilities.

• The one-stop service team also provides enhanced follow-up service for employers approaching the ERB for enquiries or assistance.

• Classes commenced on 14 September 1998, with 600 places provided by the Technical Institutes and 400 by training bodies.

• Graduate trainees with Secondary 3 education will be allowed to apply for three civil service posts--Clerical Assistant, Supplies Attendant and Supplies Assistant.

• The first class of the special seafarer training course for 21 trainees commenced on 9 September 1998. The first part of the classroom training was completed on 16 December 1998. Trainees are being placed in jobs in the industry.

• Preparation for the next course is in hand.

• The additional 1,000 places are spread over 10 one-year courses. Of these, two are existing courses while eight are new ones. The new courses aim at facilitating graduates either to secure jobs direct, or to pursue further studies.

• Classes commenced on 12 October 1998.

• The one-year full-time Construction Supervisor/Technician Training Programme commenced in mid-September 1998, providing a total of 600 training places.

• Six of the various Short Courses suitable for Secondary 5 leavers (totalling 916 training places) and lasting for about three months commenced in mid-September 1998. A substantial number of applications for the remaining short courses scheduled to commence later have been received.

• Through ERB's one-stop service (with a centrally managed telephone hotline) which came into operation on 9 July 1998, the ERB received 3,630 enquiries, 1,228 vacancies and placed 344 retrainees as domestic helpers as at the end of November 1998.

• From April to November 1998, ERB has organised a total of 141 training courses on domestic helpers for 2,791 persons. Of the 843 retrainees who completed such training courses from April to July 1998, 609 were placed in domestic helper jobs. The average placement rate is 72%.

• ERB is working closely with its training bodies in coordinating the process of matching trainees with domestic helper vacancies in different geographical districts.

• In order to publicize the training, a marketing flyer was developed and issued in late October 1998. An Announcement of Public Interest (API) on the Employees Retraining Scheme with a special focus on domestic helpers training has been featuring on television since mid-October 1998.

• Five UGC-funded institutions have over-enrolled about 460 students in their TPg programmes in the 1998/99 academic year.

• Proposal approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on 17 July 1998.

• Since implementation on 28 September 1998, 758 applications have been approved.

• Classes commenced on 16 September 1998.

• Education Department is operating 25 classes of Secondary 5 in five school premises to provide 1,000 additional places.

• An amendment bill has been introduced in the Legislative Council on 4 November 1998.

• In the meantime, Immigration Department will continue with its vigorous enforcement efforts such as conducting large-scale operations, and the Labour Department will conduct more inspections at workplaces to clamp down on illegal employment more effectively and efficiently.

• Effective from 22 June 1998.

• The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on 31 July 1998 approved a commitment of $2.5 billion for the setting up of a Special Finance Scheme for Small and Medium Enterprises. The Scheme was launched on 24 August 1998.

• As of 8 December 1998, a total of 604 applications has been referred to the Government by participating lending institutions. With the exception of five applications which havebeen withdrawn by the applicants, all of the applications have been approved. The guarantee approved and the loan involved amount to $426 million and $862 million respectively. The Government intends to conduct a comprehensive review of the Scheme in early 1999. The aim of the review is to assess the feedback of the Scheme; whether the Scheme has met its objective of assisting SMEs to obtain financing; and whether and how improvements should be made.

• Effective from 22 June, 1998.

• The Finance Committee (FC) of the Legislative Council approved the proposal on 31 July, 1998.

• The Housing Authority approved on 23 July 1998 the increase of quota from 4,500 to 10,000 for the next 12 months up to July 1999.

• Taken effect on 23 June, 1998

• Taken effect on 1 August, 1998.

• The rebate will be credited against the October to December 1998 quarterly rates bill if there has been no change in ratepayers since April 1998. For other cases, a refund of the rates paid will be arranged as soon as the ratepayers status is clarified.

• Taken effect on 1 April, 1998.