Policy Address
Investing in Infrastructure and Reinventing Construction
57. Infrastructure investment is conducive to economic development and can create a significant number of job opportunities. Based on past experience, scaling back infrastructure and ceasing land creation during an economic downturn would have an adverse impact on the economy and people’s livelihood. In view of this, the Government will continue to invest in infrastructure with an estimated annual expenditure of over $100 billion on average in the next few years, and strive to ensure the early commencement of capital works projects.
58. To enable more district-based livelihood projects which can create jobs to be launched as soon as possible, we propose that the LegCo should raise the expenditure ceiling of each minor works project funded under the block vote from the current $30 million to $50 million. We believe this would expedite the implementation of projects that are closely related to the daily lives of the people, such as renovation of schools and leisure facilities, works on improving environmental hygiene, as well as minor works on roads, drainage and water supply.
59. Over the past few years, the Development Bureau (DEVB) has been proactively implementing the “Construction 2.0” initiative to facilitate the “professionalisation” and “revitalisation” of the traditional construction industry with the wider adoption of I&T. The speedy completion of the quarantine centre at the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, with the use of the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method amid the epidemic, has been acclaimed by the Institution of Civil Engineers of the United Kingdom. To further promote the digitalisation and innovation of the construction industry as well as enhance project performance, I will chair an International Construction Leaders Summit next year to collect views from and formulate strategies with various stakeholders.
