TNAG-1795-FCO40-2555-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 337

A

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX B TO XCC(88)99

XCC(87)186 Copy NO..

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

For discussion

on 15 December 1987

IMPORTATION OF LA BOUR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND MEASURES TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS ON WORKING HOURS GENERALLY

The Problem

Work on some construction projects in Hong Kong may be being delayed through lack of skilled or semi-skilled workers. This paper addresses the questions of importing labour tó meet the shortfall, and examines whether measures should be introduced to relax the restrictions on working hours generally.

Recommendation and Advice Sought

2

It is recommended that there should be no relaxation of the criteria for admitting skilled workers from overseas for the construction industry.

3

rules

•

On administrative action to relax application of the governing overtime and other measures for flexible working hours, the Commissioner for Labour is already making greater use of his discretionary power. Further relaxation would be unlikely to be acceptable to labour representatives on the Labour Advisory Board.

4

Members will be asked to advise whether the recommendation in paragraph 2 should

in paragraph 2 should be approved and to note the conclusions in paragraph 3

Background

5

On 6 October 1987 Members considered XCC (87) 144 (Annex A) advocating the present policy that labour should be imported only where

(a) there is no security objection and no known

record of serious crimes;

(b)

there

is

no likelihood of the person

becoming a burden on Hong Kong; and

CONFIDENTIAL