So far, approval-in-principle for the importation of 2458 workers has been granted under the SLS. As at 18 January this year, out of the 1289 visa applications received, the Immigration Department has approved a total of 485 visas for importation of labour.
As regards part (a) of the question, the LAB has been most responsible in its monitoring role, and it continues to examine eligible applications and renders advice to the Government. It is therefore open to industrial and commercial organizations to apply for imported workers under the SLS if they believe they have genuine difficulties in recruiting suitable local workers. In this respect, all eligible applications must undergo a local recruitment exercise, which includes advertising the vacancies in local newspapers and joining the Labour Department's Job Matching Programme, before they can be further considered by the LAB.
As regards part (b) of the question, unlike the previous General Labour Importation Scheme, the SLS considers applications for imported workers on a case by case basis. There is therefore no quota ceiling under the SLS.
When the SLS was launched, the Government undertook to conduct a review of the scheme in consultation with the Labour Advisory Board to ensure that the SLS is achieving its policy objective when a total of 2 000 visa applications have been approved, that is to say, when 2,000 imported workers have arrived or will soon arrive in Hong Kong. This was explained clearly in the Legislative Council Brief "Importation of Labour: The Way Forward", issued to Members on 9 January 1996. I have since reiterated the Government's position on various occasions.
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End
Action against unauthorised building works
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong and a reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.