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Hongkong unveils 91 million US dollar job creation scheme
Hongkong, June 15: Hongkong`s government will create more than 32,000 additional jobs and training places at a cost of 91.78 million US to ease unemployment problems caused by SARS, chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa said today.
Hongkong, June 15: Hongkong's government will create more than 32,000 additional jobs and training places at a cost of 91.78 million US to ease unemployment problems caused by SARS, chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa said today.
He said 14,000 training places and jobs would be for young people, while the remaining 18,000 would cater for other age groups.
Tung admitted the move was unprecedented but told reporters that exceptional circumstances caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak meant special measures were required to tackle the problem.
"These are not normal times. We have been under attack from SARS and we need some very special ways to face this problem and that is what we have done," he said.
"Of course now SARS has gradually under control and the economy is slowly recovering and employment opportunities will begin to increase. So these are transitional measures that we need to take to alleviate the short-term pain."
Hongkong's unemployment rate rose sharply to 7.8 per cent in the three months to April, reflecting the adverse impact of SARS.
The census and statistics department said the unemployment rate increased from 7.5 per cent in January-March to 7.8 per cent in February-April, while the underemployment rate -- which counts people with jobs not paying enough to cover basic needs -- increased from 2.9 per cent to 3.2 per cent over the same period.
Economists have said Hongkong's unemployment rate could hit a record high of up to 8.2 per cent as the SARS outbreak takes its toll on the economy.
Bureau Report
Tung admitted the move was unprecedented but told reporters that exceptional circumstances caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak meant special measures were required to tackle the problem.
"These are not normal times. We have been under attack from SARS and we need some very special ways to face this problem and that is what we have done," he said.
"Of course now SARS has gradually under control and the economy is slowly recovering and employment opportunities will begin to increase. So these are transitional measures that we need to take to alleviate the short-term pain."
Hongkong's unemployment rate rose sharply to 7.8 per cent in the three months to April, reflecting the adverse impact of SARS.
The census and statistics department said the unemployment rate increased from 7.5 per cent in January-March to 7.8 per cent in February-April, while the underemployment rate -- which counts people with jobs not paying enough to cover basic needs -- increased from 2.9 per cent to 3.2 per cent over the same period.
Economists have said Hongkong's unemployment rate could hit a record high of up to 8.2 per cent as the SARS outbreak takes its toll on the economy.
Bureau Report