1 $1b boost sought for facelift scheme
Grace Tsoi, The Standard 11 June 2009

More than 1,500 old buildings have been earmarked for a facelift which will create 20,000 jobs, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after seeking an additional HK$1 billion from the Legislative Council for Operation Building Bright, Lam said the original intention had been to help renovate 1,000 old buildings, 500 of which belonged to owner corporations.

However, more than 1,100 owner corporations applied for financial assistance under the scheme.

"We are faced with an economic crisis and unemployment, especially in the construction sector, is very high. So we want to create more jobs for the construction sector," Lam said. The funding for the scheme will be expanded from HK$1 billion to HK$2 billion if given Legco approval, and the number of jobs created will increase from 10,000 to 20,000.

About a quarter of applications were from the Yau Tsim Mong area. "I expect we will be able to meet each and every one of the 1,000-plus applications, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria," Lam said.

The Buildings Department has approved 226 old buildings not covered by owner corporations and the 18 district councils have nominated 501 others.

On June 19, there will be a lottery to decide which will be the first 500 buildings to be renovated.

Work on the remaining buildings should begin in the autumn, after Legco approves extra funding, Lam said.