Hong Kong’s construction industry is gearing itself up for a boom as work on some of the “10 Major Infrastructure Projects,” announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Donald Tsang in the 2007 Policy Address, finally begins. Construction Build-Up A number of the projects — such as the Airport Co-operation, Lok Ma Chau Loop, West Kowloon Cultural District and the development areas in the Northeast New Territories—are in various stages of study and “public engagement.” Other projects are under design or beginning construction. Detailed artwork has commenced on the 7-km-long SIL for Hong Kong’s MTR metro

Work on the 26-km-long Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) is well under way, with the last contract to be awarded in 2011. The Legislative Council recently approved $8.6 billion in funds for construction—a controversial increase from the original $5.1 billion. Related Links: Brazil Plans High-Speed Rail for Olympics London’s Massive Rail Project Gains Favor Already $486 million worth of civil-works contracts have been awarded, with the largest being a $216-million contract to Japanese firm Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd. for construction of the Mai Po to Ngau Tam Mei tunnels at the north end of the line. The other contracts