Measures

Progress

A

Job Creation

Progress of job creation as a result of Government's policy initiatives, investments and measures

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 will produce a comprehensive update on this job creation assessment by the end of this year, taking account of the initiatives and commitments announced in the 1998 Policy Address.

Extra measures to create jobs

1

Advancing commencement of public works projects

--Since May 1998, 146 works contracts/consultancy agreements worth a total of $8.6 billion have started and some 10,000 jobs comprising 1,700 at professional/supervisory level and 8,300 at operative level have been created.

--Accelerated the progress of 25 public works contracts worth a total of HK$6.3 billion. 20 of these contracts have already started.

--Considering the possibility of advancing some more projects.

2

Expediting expenditure on minor Government maintenance works

--Started minor maintenance works worth a total of HK$95 million

--950 jobs created as of 1 November 1998. Another 50 jobs to be created by the end of this year.

3

Expanding and accelerating district-based environmental improvement projects

--Has completed selection interviews for the recruitment of 47 temporary works supervisors for managing the works projects and supervising the works contracts. Offers of appointments are being made and the first batch of candidates will report for duty on 9 November 1998.

--Will start awarding contracts in November.

4

Direct Grant of the former Tamar Site to the Hong Kong Tourist Association(HKTA) for facilitating the staging of recreational, entertainment and tourism-oriented activities, resulting in job creation.

--Metro Broadcast Co. and HKTA have been staging weekend events - "City of Life - Harbour Fun Carnival" on the site over six weekends since mid-October.

--Other events are being planned to be staged at the site. Five organisations will organise activities at the former Tamar Site in the coming four months, including the 33rd Hong Kong International Industrial Products Exhibition and the Chinese New Year Parade & Fiesta. There are also other organisers who have indicated interest in staging activities such as exhibitions, carnivals, games and entertainment at the site within this year or in 1999.

5

Major repair and maintenance works for aided schools leading to the creation of 3,730 new jobs between mid- 1998 and end-1999. These new jobs include 420 carpenters and joiners, 650 plasterers, 510 plumbers, 510 painters, 210 electricians, 1,060 general labourers and 370 blacksmiths.

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

--Around 2 050 new jobs for various construction trades have been created by the end of October and another 650 additional jobs are expected to be available by the end of this year.

6

--The Education and Manpower Bureau is now drawing up the detailed land allocation arrangements and eligibility criteria in conjunction with relevant departments.

--We plan to invite proposals from organisations by the end of November 1998.

7

To implement the following three community building projects, which will create 3,590 new jobs (for Temporary Community Organisers) from 1 December 1998 to 31 March 1999:
promotion of private building management; promotion of fire safety; and survey on the housing condition of new arrivals.

--The recruitment process for the 3,590 Tempory Community Organisers will start by the end of November 1998.

B

Strengthening and improving the Labour Department's employment and job matching service

8

Strengthening the Job Matching Programme(JMP)

--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 October 1998, the JMP registered 1,583 registrants and arranged 8,267 job referrals. 579 placements were secured, as compared to 586 last month.

9

Providing telephone referral and vacancy processing service for job-seekers

--Services started at all 11 LES offices from 6 July 1998.

In October 1998, LES received a total of 8,650 telephone calls from job-seekers, of which 8,113 (93.8%) requested job referral service. 4,711 referrals were arranged.

--In October 1998, LES obtained consent from 1,382 employers involving 2,662 vacancies (i.e. 33.3% 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 1,597 vacancies. A large percentage of these vacancies are believed to have been filled by job-seekers who had contacted the employers direct for job application.

10

Installing more self-serve touch-screen computers

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

11

Launching an Employment Information and Promotion Programme

--The Programme commenced in August 1998.

--As of 31.10.98, visits and promotional activities under this programme have reached out to 547 employers and 13,040 job-seekers.

C

Enhancing vocational training and employees retraining

12

Setting up a "One-stop" unit at the Employees Retraining Board(ERB) to assist both the unemployed and employers

--ERB has provided two telephone hotlines--one for employers and the other for employees from 9 July. Up to 31 October, a total of 3,296 and 12,933 telephone enquiries respectively from employers and employees were handled and 2,282 vacancies registered.

--2,810 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.

--Since 2 November 1998, ERB has extended its service hours to the public by two and a half hours from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (including lunch hours) from Monday to Friday. Depending on public response, it will consider extending the service hours on Saturdays and Sundays.

13

Launching a special nine-month Certificate of Skills Training(Service Industries) Course for 1,000 unemployed persons to be run jointly by the ERB and the Vocational Training Council (VTC)

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

--Classes commenced on 14 September 1998, with 600 places provided by Technical Institutes and 400 by Training Bodies.

14

Special training programme for the maritime industry to be jointly launched by the VTC and ERB for the unemployed

--The first class of the special seafarer training course for 21 trainees commenced on 9 September 1998. The course will be completed on 16 December.

--VTC is liaising with employers regarding placement of trainees. Recruitment of trainees for the next course is in hand.

15

Implement a special one-year full-time Vocational Studies Certificate programme for 1000 Secondary 5 leavers at the various Technical Institutes of the Vocational Training Council in October 1998

--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.

16

Increase by 392 over the existing total of 1,124 training places (i.e. to 1,516 places, comprising 600 full-time and 916 part-time) for Secondary 5 leavers at the Construction Industry Training Authority(CITA) in 1998/99

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

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

17

Enhance the retraining-cum-job matching programmes for domestic helpers and child-minders under the Employees Retraining Board (ERB).

--ERB's one-stop service (with a centrally managed telephone hotline) came into operation on 9 July 1998. As at 31 October 1998, ERB received 2,913 enquiries, 972 vacancies and placed 216 retrainees as domestic helpers.

--ERB is working out, in conjunction with 13 training bodies, a new series of marketing and training initiatives for domestic helpers, to tap the huge potential for job creation in this market. In order to publicize the training, a marketing flyer was developed and issued in late October 1998. An Announcement of Public Interest (API) on Employees Retraining Scheme with a special focus on domestic helpers training has been featuring on television since mid-October 1998.

D

Promoting further education

18

Expanding the capacity of taught post-graduate(TPg) courses at the institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC)

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

19

Extending the Non-Means-Tested Loan Scheme to benefit some 61,000 additional tertiary students

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

--Since implementation on 28 September 1998, 341 applications have been approved.

20

Increase the number of Secondary 5 places in Government evening schools by up to an additional 1000 places as from September 1998, depending on the actual demand

--Education Department has identified five school premises to operate 25 classes of Secondary 5 to provide 1,000 additional places.

--Classes commenced on 16 September 1998.

E

Tightening measures to combat illegal employment

21

Amending the Immigration Ordinance to hold construction site controllers criminally liable if persons not lawfully employable, including two-way permit holders, breach their condition of stay by taking up employment on construction sites.

--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.

Measures

Progress

A

Easing the Credit and Liquidity Crunch

1

Exempt from 22 June 1998 profits tax interest income earned from deposits placed locally with authorised banking institutions

--Effective from 22 June, 1998.

2

Provide HK$2 billion to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to obtain loans from lending institutions

--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 2 November 1998, a total of 302 applications has been received. With the exception of two applications which have been withdrawn by the applicants, all of the applications have been approved, with the loan involved amounting to $458 million. The Government intends to review the Scheme in early 1999.

B

Stabilising property prices

3

Suspend all land sales by auction and public tender till 31 March 1999

--Effective from 22 June, 1998.

4

Double the allocation for "Home Starter Loan Scheme" in 1998-99 from $3.6 billion to $7.2 billion so that twice the number of households (i.e. from 6,000 to 12,000) will be able to become home owners

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

5

The Housing Authority to consider increasing the quota for the "Home Purchase Loan Scheme" from 4,500 to 10,000 in 1998-99.

--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.

C

Easing costs of families and business

6

Reduce duty on diesel by 30% from 23 June 1998 to March 31 1999

--Taken effect on 23 June, 1998

7

Reduce declaration charge for imports from 0.035% to 0.025% and for domestic exports from 0.05% to 0.025%

--Taken effect on 1 August, 1998.

8

Rebate the first quarter rates paid in 1998-99

--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.

D

Sharing the economic difficulty of the community

9

Freeze salaries adjustment of D3 officers and above in the civil service, Government-subvented organisations, the Judiciary, and the ICAC whose salary adjustments follow exactly those in the civil service.

--Taken effect on 1 April, 1998.