EMPLOYMENT
(a) local workers must be given priority in filling job vacancies available in the job
market; and
(b) employers who are genuinely unable to recruit local workers to fill their job
vacancies should be allowed to import workers.
This scheme commenced in February 1996. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure priority of employment for local workers, each application for imported workers has to pass three tests before it is submitted to the Labour Advisory Board for consideration and the Secretary for Education and Manpower for a decision advertising in newspapers, job-matching by the Labour Department for four weeks, and tailor-made retraining course for workers, if appropriate. In all, 1 389 visas/entry permits were approved during the year and a cumulative total of 8 749 visa/entry permit applications had been approved by the end of 2001.
Admission of Talent
An Admission of Talents Scheme was introduced in December 1999 to attract talented people, especially those from the Mainland, to come to Hong Kong for employment. The aim of the scheme is to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness as a manufacturing and services centre, in particular in technology-based, knowledge- intensive, and value-added activities. Further details are set out in Chapter 22, Population and Immigration.
Admission of Mainland Professionals
Following a review of the immigration policy on the entry of professionals, a new Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme was introduced on June 1, 2001. The scheme aims to attract Mainland professionals to come to work in Hong Kong in order to meet local manpower needs and to enhance the competitiveness of local companies in the globalised market with a view to facilitating the economic development of Hong Kong. Further details of this scheme are given in Chapter 22.
Admission of Mainland Students Graduating from University Grants Committee (UGC)-Funded Institutions in Hong Kong
With effect from August 1, 2001, Mainland students who graduated from UGC- funded institutions in 1990 or afterwards may be admitted for employment, provided that they possess a special skill, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong and are employed with a remuneration broadly commensurate with the market level. The objective of this arrangement is to attract outstanding Mainland students who have completed their studies at the bachelor degree level or above to re-enter for employment after graduation so as to increase Hong Kong's competitiveness in the knowledge-based global economy.
Foreign Domestic Helpers
Foreign domestic helpers may be admitted subject to the conditions that they have relevant experience, that their employers are bona fide Hong Kong residents who are prepared to offer reasonable terms of employment including suitable accommodation and wages not lower than a minimum level set by the Government, and that the employers are willing to provide for the maintenance of the helpers in Hong Kong as well as to meet the costs of repatriation of the helpers to their country of origin.
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