XCC (87) 28
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(b)
(c)
(d)
Page
6
should the number of applications exceed 3,000 (the number the Director of Immigration considers to be in the process of being put forward and referred to in paragraph 3 above), the Department would be criticised for not processing those
applications beyond the ceiling;
a numerical ceiling will give rise to considerable administrative difficulties and enforcement problems;
the system may be abused and provide opportunities for corruption.
The Commissioner for Labour's arguments against a waiting list of potential employers are :
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(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
a long waiting list will be a
target for complaints and the Government will be pressurised to admit more FDHS, including some from China;
fictitious
employers joining the waiting list will render screening of applications more difficult;
it will create opportunities for corruption for those maintaining the waiting list;
the Labour Department does not have the resources to administer a waiting list.
The Commissioner is more in favour of the proposal put to Members in XCC (86) 141, that is to bar the entry of any new FDHS, thus leading to a gradual reduction in their numbers.
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As this review stems from a recommendation of the OMELCO Security Panel, it is proposed that the Panel be consulted on whatever courses of action Executive Council advise should be adopted.
Financial and staffing implications
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The introduction of
of a limit on the number of FDHS will mean a saving of Immigration Department staff working on the entry of new FDHS. This saving may be more than offset by additional staff
staff the Department will require to enforce the tightened conditions of service, including the need to ensure that those who do not leave Hong Kong within two weeks of the