Fostering economic development and strengthening education and training were the job creation recipe put forward by those attending a Commission on Strategic Development (CSD) meeting yesterday.

Head of the Central Policy Unit Lau Siu-kai said this after a meeting of CSD's Committee on Economic Development and Economic Cooperation with the Mainland.

According to Lau, some participants proposed launching more infrastructure projects in order to generate more job opportunities.

The government's view, however, was that there was no dearth of such projects at present, only that they had been slowed down by opposition.

Some, however, suggested improving the business environment and air quality, increasing competition in the economy and among companies and slashing operation costs, especially in prices, to lure foreign investments that would create more jobs.

There was, however, a consensus that the jobless problem had only been faced by those with low education levels.

In the long run, Hong Kong must, therefore, foster its higher education and launch more first degree programmes, and provide university graduates with the opportunity of initial training.

Training should be extended to those with middle-level education as well, the majority of the participants of the meeting said. What Hong Kong now needs badly, they believed, is people who could fill the high and mid-level positions. The finance industry is the hardest hit and it is important that veterans in these industries come forward to train the newcomers.

The meeting expressed special concern for the jobless problem faced by the less educated. The participants felt the problem would not last long as the education level of the younger generation is improving.

As to the unemployment problem of those with little skill and education, the members agreed that not much could be done about it, except developing such trades as slope repairing, underground pipelines replacement and garbage recollection as well as community services.