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We will follow up the ideas and the proposals which have been put forward today. We are obviously particularly concerned at the number of employers who have been raising some of the difficulties they have experienced with the Supplementary Labour Scheme. We will look at those without, I hope, getting the figures out of context and without ignoring what is happening overall in the labour market to which the SLS even if we had got to the 2,000 level would be making a very small contribution.

But thank you once again all of you for coming here today. I make no excuse whatsoever for trying to build a consensus on these issues. There is in Hong Kong a surprising degree of social stability and political moderation in comparison with other places in the region and other places in the world and I think those things are worth hanging on to and I am grateful to all of you for the contribution you make to that. Thank you very much.

End

Efforts to match job seekers and vacancies continued

The Government, with the support of employers and employees, has managed to achieve good results in tackling unemployment and redressing the 'mismatch' in the

labour market.

However, the Government believes that long-term solution lies in equipping the territory's workforce with the necessary skills and expertise to cope with changing demands of the economy.

This was stated today (Thursday) by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, when addressing the third Governor's Summit Meeting on Employment.

Mr Wong said the two separate consultancy studies commissioned by his Branch to study the direction, strategy and management structure of the Vocational Training Council and the Employees Retraining Board were nearing completion.

"The relevant bodies and other interested parties will shortly be consulted on the recommendations.