(To watch the 2020 Policy Address speech with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam noted in her policy speech today that Hong Kong’s labour market has come under immense pressure due to the global and local COVID-19 epidemic.

Under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, the Government has launched a Job Creation Scheme whereby a total of 30,000 time-limited job opportunities will be created for people with different academic qualifications and skill sets.

Mrs Lam said the Government will adopt additional measures to create more sector-specific jobs which are particularly suitable for young people graduating in recent years.

To support the green industry, the Government will invest in a series of environmental projects in the next few years, creating an estimated 4,000 job opportunities in sectors such as scientific research, architecture and engineering, recycling and transport.

In addition to the planned large-scale projects, the Chief Executive has requested various works departments to press ahead with renovation, repair and maintenance works for various government buildings and facilities, and to expedite the refurbishment and minor improvement works of public markets.

The Housing Authority will allocate additional resources to improve the environment and communal facilities of public housing estates.

Regarding the innovation and technology industry, the Government will provide wage subsidies for Hong Kong technology companies to hire employees to work and gain experience in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area.

For the property management industry, the Government is collaborating with large property management companies and will subsidise them to employ more young people who are interested in pursuing a career in property management.

The Government will also make good use of various funds which support the development of films, design, culture and arts as well as art tech. It will also consider providing wage subsidies to attract more newcomers who aspire to pursue a career in the creative industries.

Mrs Lam pointed out that as an international legal hub and centre for dispute resolution services, coupled with the recent implementation of liberalisation measures for legal professional services in the bay area, there is a need for Hong Kong to nurture more legal talents.

The Government will also provide 20,000 places and an allowance for trainees under the new tranche of an Employees Retraining Board special scheme in January, which will last for six months.