The Urban Renewal Authority will create at least 500 job opportunities by launching building-improvement projects at a cost of HK$250 million, authority Chairman Barry Cheung said yesterday. After an authority board meeting, Cheung said that the jobs will be created by March 2010.

The authority will spend HK$180 million on 10 community revitalization and improvement projects in Tsuen Wan, Tai Kok Tsui, Sham Shui Po, Central and Western, and Wan Chai.

Another HK$64 million will be spent on a building rehabilitation program, compared with an annual budget of about HK$25 million in recent years. Cheung expects 160 buildings to be covered by the extended program.

Owners of about 500 residential buildings have renovated their homes under the program in the past four years.

(HK Edition 11/25/2008 page1)