TNAG-2215-FCO40-3182-Address-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-Legis-1991 — Page 27

38-OCT-1991 16:58

SECRETARIAT D.A.U.

+852 845 7895

P.

14

24

47.

We thus face a choice.

Do we accept the need to

strengthen

Our labour force with

scheme

to import

labour?

Or do

a carefully controlled

we accept inflation,

But

We are

aggravated by the slow economic growth caused by the acute shortage of. labour? I believe we must go for growth.

it must be growth with the right safeguards. therefore considering an expansion of our controlled scheme to import workers from overseas but only in those sectors of the economy where the labour shortage is most acute.

-

48.

There is, of course, no question of expanding the

scheme to the point where the living standards of local

workers

would be

damaged.

The objective

must

be

to

increase the prosperity of the people of Hong Kong as a

whole by removing a major obstacle to economic growth.

49.

becomes

The Government's responsibility to the work force

beyond ensuring that their interests are protected

to necessary

import foreign labour.

It

goes beyond

when it

also means providing statutory protection in respect of

health and safety, employment conditions and compensation.

During this session, Members will be asked to consider:

/- tighter