Some $12 billion has been earmarked since May for a package of relief measures to help the community tide over the difficulties caused by SARS and revive the economy.

Of this sum, about $1.1 billion has been allocated for the implementation of employment initiatives.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung said 500 places are available under the Government's Skills Enhancement Project for employees in the building decoration sector to receive two-month training from July 7.

The project helps trainees improve their skills and better equips them to re-enter the industry when the economy revives. Trainees will also receive special allowances during the training period.

Operation Care, co-ordinated by the Social Welfare Department, has created 2,000 job opportunities for semi-skilled construction workers. By July 3, the project has provided minor household repair services to 5,367 families.

To facilitate the inspection and maintenance of drainage pipes on external walls of private residential buildings under Team Clean, the Buildings Department will soon create 48 one-year posts for contract technicians.

The department estimates that in the next few months, about 6,300 short-term vacancies in the private sector will be created for construction workers, and another 700 for professional and technical staff under the exercise.

Mr Cheung said the Government is putting forward a series of measures to revive the economy, it will also continue to make every effort to improve the business environment and promote Hong Kong to attract investors and tourists. The economy and the employment situation are expected to improve in the medium term

Meanwhile, he said the construction industry's occupational health and safety performance was continuously improving.

The number of industrial accidents dropped 33.3% from 1,500 in the first quarter of 2002 to 1,000 in the same period this year, while the accident rate per 1,000 workers had also decreased 20.3% from 78.7 to 60.6.

In the past two years, the accident toll dropped 32.2% from more than 9,200 in 2001 to about 6,200 in 2002, while the accident rate per 1,000 workers decreased 25.7% from 114.6 to 85.2.

More than $340 million in compensation was paid to injured employees and family members of deceased workers last year. The number of working days lost was over 450,000.

Mr Cheung said, the Labour Department has been in close partnership with the construction sector for years in enhancing the industry's occupational health and safety performance through joint large-scale promotional activities.