XN000022-1989-05-12 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1989

"THIS WILL HELP ENSURE 'TIA'T LOCAL WAGES ARE NOT UNDULY AFFECTED BY IMPORTATION, AND THAT LOCAL WORKERS WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE THE FRUITS OF A BOOMING ECONOMY," HE SAID,

MR TSANG ADDED THAT VISAS FOR IMPORTED SKILLED WORKERS WOULD ONLY BE GRANTED ON THE BASIS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS NOT EXCEEDING TWO YEARS, AND THAT RENEWAL OF CONTRACTS WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE APPROVED.

"THE IMPORTATION OF SKILLED LABOUR IS ONLY A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO ALLOW TIME FOR COMPANIES TO INTRODUCE HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY AND LABOUR SAVING SYSTEMS," HE SAID.

MR TSANG POINTED OUT THAT IN CONSIDERING APPLICATIONS. PRIORITY WOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE INDUSTRIES AND SKILLS WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF MANPOWER SHORTAGE IN THE RELEVANT SKILL CATEGORIES.

"A LIST OF INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES RANKED ACCORDING то THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES FOR SKILLED MANPOWER, AND A SECOND LIST OF THE RELEVANT JOB TITLES IN EACH INDUSTRY OR SERVICE RANKED ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE VACANCY RATES HAVE BEEN COMPILED AND ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM THE IMMIGRATION AND LABOUR DEPARTMENTS, HE SAID.

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"THESE LISTS WILL HELP PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND THEIR APPLICATIONS WILL BE ASSESSED.

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HOW

APPLICATIONS FOR IMPORTING SKILLED LABOUR UNDER THE SCHEME MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION BY THE END OF JUNE.

"WE HAVE IMPROVED THE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS AND AIM TO COMPLETE ALL VETTING AND INFORM EMPLOYERS OF OUR DECISION IN JULY.

"TO HELP EMPLOYERS TO MAKE USE OF THE SCHEME, A PAMPHLET, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, DESCRIBING THE PROCEDURES FOR IMPORTING SKILLED LABOUR IS NOW AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM ALL OFFICES OF THE IMMIGRATION AND LABOUR DEPARTMENTS," HE SAID.

WILL

THE STEERING GROUP WHICH DREW UP DETAILS OF THE SCHEME CONTINUE TO MONITOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ADJUST IT TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

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