Jobs windfall for Tin Shui Wai next year
Recruiting for Jockey Club telebet centre to start in the middle of 2008
As many as 2,500 jobs could be available for residents in Tin Shui Wai with the establishment of a Jockey Club telebet centre in the troubled new town in northwest New Territories.
Details of the HK$60 million plan were unveiled by the club yesterday as the government's labour chief promised a review of ways to make it easier for needy residents to get subsidies for transport to work.
The moves form part of a government campaign to help those living in Tin Shui Wai, a new town mainly populated by lower-income groups and new immigrants.
Several high-profile family violence incidents in recent years have highlighted the lack of job opportunities and social support in the town, labelled the 'City of Sadness'.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah commented on the telebet centre plan yesterday while officiating at the opening of a new youth centre in Tin Shui Wai.
He said at the opening of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Jockey Club Integrated Service Centre that recruitment and training for the telebet centre would begin in mid 2008.
At a media briefing, Jockey Club chairman John Chan Cho-chak said: 'It is hoped that the new centre will help revitalise Tin Shui Wai and gradually give local residents a chance to establish new community networks.'
Mr Chan said the club had been planning to build one more telebet centre to cope with increased demand. The club runs three telebet centres in Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi at present. 'However, noting the growing demand for more jobs in Tin Shui Wai, we decided to bring the project to this district, so as to create 2,500 new jobs there,' he said.
While recruitment would be open to all, he said he expected Tin Shui Wai residents to benefit the most.
'Few in other districts would be expected to be willing to travel a long way to work in Tin Shui Wai.'
Pay rates for part-time workers at the telebet centre will range from HK$41 to HK$47 an hour for applicants over the age of 18, with Form Three to Form Five level education.
The telebet centre and a training unit will be built on the first and second floors of the Tin Heng Estate car park building and open by mid 2009.
Tin Shui Wai Women's Association vice-chairwoman Tang Mong-chu said she feared the jobs on offer would be unsuitable as many residents were not highly educated.
'The jobs will only suit young people,' she said. 'Most people of the older generation don't know how to use a computer and hi-tech machines. It will be much better if the government can turn some new public housing units into hostels to provide more cleaning and labour work.' But Mr Chan said successful applicants would be trained.
'We will provide appropriate training and development opportunities to this new workforce so as to enhance their skills and knowledge. In this way, they will be able to reach their full potential in work and to better serve the community,' he said.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said yesterday the government would review the scheme to subsidise transport costs of people in remote parts of the New Territories.
Mr Cheung said it would put proposals to Legco early next year to possibly raise income caps and claim periods. Workers in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North and Islands districts earning HK$5,600 or less a month can apply for a subsidy of HK$600 a month for up to six months.
