XN000022-1995-05-03 — Page 35

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by providing a comprehensive system of technical education and vocational training;

and by retraining displaced workers through the Employees Services Retraining Board

We always endeavour to ensure that our training policy is flexible and adaptable to the needs of the labour market especially those arising from the restructuring of our economy. On retraining, we will work with the Employees Retraining Board to maintain the successful placement rates of 60-70% for its retrainees who are active job-seekers.

Conclusion

While we share with Members of this Council the concern about the recent unemployment problems, we have strong reservations about the proposals to terminate the importation of labour policy and to introduce legislation to give priority in employment to local workers. These are just not the solutions to the problems in question. Adopting such radical measures without assessing their consequences will have a detrimental impact on our economy, leaving our local workers much worse off than before.

The way ahead should therefore be to make a balanced assessment of the situation in our labour market and our economy, and to draw up practical and effective ways to help ease the employment difficulties facing our local workers in certain

sectors.

Hong Kong's success owes much to the formulation and effective implernentation of a comprehensive and well-co-ordinated employment policy in tune with the latest economic and social developments. As with any other policies, there is always room for improvements. We in the Government will continue to work with this Council and all employer and employee associations and bodies to introduce suitable improvements to our employment policy in the best interests of the public. For the reasons I have already given carlier, we cannot therefore support this motion.

I turn now to the amendment motion. Mr Tien's amendment to the motion comprises two parts. First, it adds to it the concern about recruitment difficulties facing employers on top of that facing employees in the original motion. Second, instead of asking for a termination of the importation of labour policy and legislation to give priority in employment to local workers, it asks Government to review and formulate a comprehensive employment policy to help resolve the different difficult problems experienced by both employers and employees. This points to a rational and prudent approach in handling the most contentious labour issues ahead of us, and is thus worthy of support.