XN000022-1995-05-16 — Page 3

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"The first point I'll make is that the number actually coming in under the general importation scheme is of course a great deal lower than the number of unemployed. It's about a third of the number of unemployed.

"Secondly, under the importation scheme, we do have provision to ensure that people aren't coming to jobs which could be taken by locals," he said.

End/Tuesday, May 16, 1995

Transcript of the Governor's media session

Following is a transcript of the media session by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after visiting the Hong Kong Technical College (Chai Wan) today (Tuesday):

Governor: As I am sure you know, the Vocational Training Council has established two excellent technical colleges to take over the Higher Diploma and Higher Certificate courses that were formerly conducted by the polytechnics. I've visited the other of our new technical colleges, Tsing Yi, on a couple of occasions. I was very keen to come to Chai Wan and see the work that's being done here. I think anybody who comes to our technical colleges can be very proud of our young people and of the colleges themselves. I think it is a good reason for having confidence in the future when you see what is being accomplished here. One reason why I think it is particularly relevant is brought home to us all by this afternoon's undoubtedly disturbing unemployment figures. I don't think that anybody has to be alarmed the trend in unemployment, but I think there is room for concern. Of course, it is true to say that unemployment in Hong Kong is much lower than in most other communities. But, nevertheless, we've enjoyed very low unemployment figures over the years. And all of us want to see it staying like that. In order to ensure that we have the best possible labour market and the best possible employment figures and prospect in the future, it is extremely important to do everything we can to go on improving training, re-training and job placement. And I want to see us give particular priority to these areas of policy in the coming months and years. I know that there is concern on the part unions and the work force about the trend in unemployment over the last few months. So I have invited leaders of our unions and their representatives in the Legislative Council to come and meet me this week on Thursday to discuss their concerns and it won't of course be the first time that I've met them and it won't be the first time that I've been involved in union activities in Hong Kong. But I do think it is extremely important that we try to avoid politicising this issue and try to ensure that we have the best possible dialogue in the community about employment and about continuing to ensure that Hong Kong, unlike a lot of other communities, has the best possible employment prospects.