One in five construction workers in Hong Kong could be laid off if Legco filibuster continues, industry leaders warn
Stalling by lawmakers means only four projects out of 72 that the government planned to submit for funding approval have been passed
Some architecture firms are imposing hiring freezes in the wake of a bleak business outlook as many government-proposed building projects are being held up by filibustering in the legislature.
The government had planned to submit 72 projects to the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee public works subcommittee for funding approval in the 2015-16 legislative session, which started last October. But only four have been passed so far: revitalisation of the former Fanling Magistracy; revitalisation of Haw Par Mansion; revitalisation of the Bridge Street Market; and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge boundary crossing facilities.
While there is a shortage of site workers at the moment, some builders have also warned of possible mass lay-offs in two to three years when major projects currently under construction, like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, high-speed railway, and the Liangtang-Heung Yuen Wai control point, are completed.
READ MORE: Hong Kong’s pan-democrats are making an unacceptable mockery of Legco processes
The construction sector contributed to 4.3 per cent of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product in 2014, compared with 5.9 per cent in Japan and 8 per cent in Australia. The sector hires about 400,000 people, including 280,000 site workers.
The Construction Industry Alliance, which comprises 16 unions, chambers and professional bodies, warned that one in five could be thrown out of work if the filibustering did not stop.
A key member of the alliance, Professor Bernard Lim Wan-fung of Chinese University, a former president of the Institute of Architects, said: “Many architecture firms are imposing hiring freezes and cutting costs to keep afloat.
“The starting pay of new architects has also been cut by 10 per cent to 15 per cent. Some of my former architecture students had to switch to interior decoration or design.
“We are not playing politics. And we do not want to get involved in the political disputes between some legislators and the government, either. We just want to tell the legislators that the sector is facing a critical time now and they should not ignore our plight.”
