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There were altogether 3,129 applications for the 1,000 quotas under the Pilot Scheme. Four quarterly ballot exercises were held and the Immigration Department subsequently invited all the 1.000 applicants whose applications were drawn up to submit formal applications under the Scheme. The 2,129 applications not drawn out in the ballot exercises were put on a computer-generated reserve list. When quotas lefi over from formal applications which were either refused or withdrawn were available, the applicants on the reserve list would be advised, in the order of their position on the list, to submit a formal application.

In October 1995, in view of the slow utilisation rate of the quotas, the Immigration Department asked all the companies on the reserve list to confirm their interest in remaining in the Scheme. In the end, only 1.514 chose to remain on the list.

As of 20 March 1996, of these 1,514 applicants on the reserve list, 900 have been called up to submit their formal applications under the Scheme. Out of the formal applications for quotas from the total of 1.900 applicants (the original 1,000 successful companies in the four ballot exercises plus 900 from the reserve list), 712 were approved, 66 refused. 983 withdrawn, and 139 under processing. Applicants with approved quotas are normally given 4 months to arrange for the submission of visa applications by the candidates. Of the 712 approved quota applications. 394 visa applications have been approved so far.

My replies to the specific parts of the question are as follows:

(a)

There were 983 withdrawal cases. Of these. 629 were from applicants who withdrew before or when the Immigration Department called them up for submission of formal applications. We do not know the reasons for their withdrawal. As for the remaining 354. their reasons for withdrawal are as follows:

Unable to find the suitable candidate

(b)

295

Unable to provide sufficient information pertaining to the candidate for consideration by the Immigration Department Changes in the recruitment policy of the company Total

7

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354

All formal applications are vetted carefully to ensure that they meet the criteria and objectives of the Pilot Scheme. Of the 900 reserve list cases. 282 were approved, 13 were refused, 466 were withdrawn, and 139 are being examined by the Immigration Department.