Ground breaking: Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng officiates at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Amenity & Community Building in Tin Ching Estate, Tin Shui Wai.

Expedited Housing Authority construction and maintenance projects will create 8,000 jobs in 2008-09, growing to 10,000 in 2009-10.

This was the message from Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng today at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Amenity & Community Building in Tin Ching Estate, Tin Shui Wai.

Ms Cheng said the projects have been brought forward to help keep people in work during the current economic slowdown. Total costs are estimated to be $7.7 billion in 2008-09 and $9.8 billion in 2009-10.

Construction of the Tin Ching Amenity & Community Building project will immediately bring 200 jobs and create another 200 upon its completion at the end of 2010. The building is the sixth of its kind built by the authority to cater for Tin Shui Wai residents.

Originally planned as an open car park in Tin Ching Estate, the site was converted in response to requests from voluntary organisations for more accommodation space. About 20 organisations will operate in the 9,500-square-metre complex, providing welfare, health, vocational training and recruitment services.