XN000022-1996-02-14 — Page 38

36 -

(a) the Government has assessed if the scheme has impeded the training of local professionals and their career development;

(b) any corresponding interim and long-term policies have been formulated since the introduction of the pilot scheme to train up local professionals with a view to abolishing the scheme at a later date; and

(c) consideration will be given to reviewing the scheme as soon as the number of employment visas issued has reached a level of 50% of the quota under the Scheme?

Reply:

Mr President,

As regards part (a) of the question, the pilot scheme to bring in professionals from China is strictly restricted to those who possess special qualifications and experience of China which are in demand, but not readily available in Hong Kong. All employers wishing to apply for quota under the scheme are required to establish and substantiate their need for a particular professional from China and each application is carefully scrutinised by the Immigration Department before deciding whether it should be approved.

As of 31 January 1996, 688 out of the 1,000 quotas allocated have been approved for which 374 employment visas have been approved. It is not likely that the small number of such professionals who have so far entered Hong Kong for employment, will have any impact on the training and career prospect of the local professionals.

As regards parts (b) and (c) of the question, the pilot scheme is a limited extension to the existing policy on the entry of overseas professionals who possess special skill, knowledge or experience of value to but not readily available in Hong Kong. Whether the pilot scheme should continue depends on the local demand and supply of such professionals from China. In view of the slow take-up and utilisation rate of the quotas under the pilot scheme, we will closely monitor the progress and conduct a review as and when a sufficiently large number, say 75% of the visas have been approved.

End