Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang announced the government’s plans to undertake 10 major infrastructure projects which will add more than HKD 100 billion (US$ 12.9 billion) to the economy and create 250000 jobs, a news report said.

According to the report, Mr Tsang said in his first annual policy address since winning re-election in March, “Infrastructure development can bring about huge economic benefits…Both employment opportunities and wages will increase during the construction stage and upon completion, the infrastructure projects will boost economic activities and improve the living environment.”

The projects include building railways connecting airports of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Other proposed projects include a mass railway link to the southern district of Hong Kong and a rail project between the northeast new territories and Hong Kong island via East Kowloon.

According to local media, Mr Tsang said, “These infrastructure developments will consolidate Hong Kong’s status as a global city and lay a new foundation for our sustained development in the future.”