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Home >> Government Measures Build Employment

CEPA Offers Opportunities for HK

WHO & CDC Lift Travel Advisory

HK Off SARS List

HK Travel Advisory Lifted

HK Relaunch Announced

"Business After SARS" Conference

"Team Clean"

HK to Lure Tourists

SARS Experts Committee

Business Events

Tourism Forum in July

HK Opens for Business

With higher unemployment and underemployment figures recorded in March-May 2003, reflecting the full impact of the now-contained SARS outbreak, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has announced an enhanced package of employment and training initiatives.

Comparing March-May 2003 with February-April 2003, the unemployment rose from 7.8% to 8.3% across many of the major economic sectors, including restaurants and hotels, retail, transport, real estate, and manufacturing. In the same period, the number of unemployed persons rose by around 13,300. The underemployment rate also increased, from 3.2% to 3.8% (provisional) over the same period.

The Government will earmark HK$700 million to provide relief by creating over 32,000 new jobs and training places. This is in addition to the 21,500 training places and short-term jobs created under the HK$432 million relief package implemented in May 2003.

The new temporary jobs will cover a wide spectrum, including jobs to enhance environmental hygiene, promote culture, arts, recreation and sports activities and more.

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