1995 — Page 161

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

137

contribution to various sectors of our economy such as the construction industry, service industry and manufacturing industry. If we do not allow them to work, we are in fact vetoing Government policy. Is this the proper way to exercise a power which has been given to us by the public and is our proposal for banning overseas workers illegal? We are in fact unnecessarily putting a blame on companies which employ overseas workers which violates the spirit of the Rule of Law. Will our production rate increase, our production cost decrease and our goods become more competitive as a result of this ban on employing overseas workers? Will factory owners be attracted to put their factories back to Hong Kong or will they be forced to come back to Hong Kong? I certainly don't think so.

So, with these words, I oppose the motion.

Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I support the spirit of the motion as raised by Mr. Li which, to a certain extent, helps to monitor the situation of the importation of foreign labours. However, I am worried about the practicability of the amended motion which places restriction on unskilled labour. As the quality of life in Hong Kong rises, it would be difficult to recruit labour to undertake dangerous and junior jobs. There would be some difficulties in enforcing the amended motion, so I do have some reservations in this regard.

We discuss the issue of foreign labour today since many people cannot find jobs and face the threat of unemployment in Hong Kong. Some people think that it is because of the transformation of the Hong Kong economy. Some people say it is because of the importation of overseas labour while others say it is because of the number of illegal workers working in Hong Kong. So if we address the unemployment problem, we have to take account of a number of factors. I am concerned about the issue of illegal workers. Many employers, like those in the catering industry, construction works and transportation field, employ illegal workers and they just only pay very low wages by obtaining workers from the black market. According to the statistics of Immigration Department, there were 11,900 over-stayers from January to April this year. They account for 15% of the total number of visitors coming into Hong Kong. The number of prosecutions of illegal workers during the same period was 3,670, as compared to 3,287 last year. Given the upward trend of the employment of illegal workers, shouldn't the Government take some actions to clamp down on the illegal workers? I agree that we should safeguard the employment opportunities of Hong Kong workers and give priority to local workers for UC contracts. Since UC has a lot of major construction contracts, we should take care of the local workers first. The Government should step up other counselling work, like job training and clamp down on illegal workers, in order to safeguard the employment opportunities of local workers. So apart from the spirit of the motion which I support, I hope that different departments will do more in protecting the local workers.

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 137 contribution to various sectors of our economy such as the construction industry, service industry and manufacturing industry. If we do not allow them to work, we are in fact vetoing Government policy. Is this the proper way to exercise a power which has been given to us by the public and is our proposal for banning overseas workers illegal? We are in fact unnecessarily putting a blame on companies which employ overseas workers which violates the spirit of the Rule of Law. Will our production rate increase, our production cost decrease and our goods become more competitive as a result of this ban on employing overseas workers? Will factory owners be attracted to put their factories back to Hong Kong or will they be forced to come back to Hong Kong? I certainly don't think so. So, with these words, I oppose the motion. Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I support the spirit of the motion as raised by Mr. Li which, to a certain extent, helps to monitor the situation of the importation of foreign labours. However, I am worried about the practicability of the amended motion which places restriction on unskilled labour. As the quality of life in Hong Kong rises, it would be difficult to recruit labour to undertake dangerous and junior jobs. There would be some difficulties in enforcing the amended motion, so I do have some reservations in this regard. We discuss the issue of foreign labour today since many people cannot find jobs and face the threat of unemployment in Hong Kong. Some people think that it is because of the transformation of the Hong Kong economy. Some people say it is because of the importation of overseas labour while others say it is because of the number of illegal workers working in Hong Kong. So if we address the unemployment problem, we have to take account of a number of factors. I am concerned about the issue of illegal workers. Many employers, like those in the catering industry, construction works and transportation field, employ illegal workers and they just only pay very low wages by obtaining workers from the black market. According to the statistics of Immigration Department, there were 11,900 over-stayers from January to April this year. They account for 15% of the total number of visitors coming into Hong Kong. The number of prosecutions of illegal workers during the same period was 3,670, as compared to 3,287 last year. Given the upward trend of the employment of illegal workers, shouldn't the Government take some actions to clamp down on the illegal workers? I agree that we should safeguard the employment opportunities of Hong Kong workers and give priority to local workers for UC contracts. Since UC has a lot of major construction contracts, we should take care of the local workers first. The Government should step up other counselling work, like job training and clamp down on illegal workers, in order to safeguard the employment opportunities of local workers. So apart from the spirit of the motion which I support, I hope that different departments will do more in protecting the local workers. Page 161 of 485 Page 161 of 185 Page 161 of 485 Page 161 of 485

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Page 161 of 485 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 137 contribution to various sectors of our economy such as the construction industry, service industry and manufacturing industry. If we do not allow them to work, we are in fact vetoing Government policy. Is this the proper way to exercise a power which has been given to us by the public and is our proposal for banning overseas workers illegal? We are in fact unnecessarily putting a blame on companies which employ overseas workers which violates the spirit of the Rule of Law. Will our production rate increase, our production cost decrease and our goods become more competitive as a result of this ban on employing overseas workers? Will factory owner's be attracted to put their factories back to Hong Kong or will they be forced to come back to Hong Kong? I certainly don't think so. So, with these words, I oppose to the motion. Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I support the spirit of the motion as raised by Mr. Li which, to a certain extent, helps to monitor the situation of the importation of foreign labours. However, I am worried about the practicability of the amended motion which places restriction on unskilled labour. As the quality of life in Hong Kong rises, it would be difficult to recruit labour to undertake dangerous and junior jobs. There would be some difficulties in enforcing the amended motion, so I do have some reservations in this regard. We discuss the issue of foreign labour today since many people cannot find jobs and face the threat of unemployment in Hong Kong. Some people think that it is because of the transformation of the Hong Kong economy. Some people say it is because of the importation of overseas labour while others say it is because of the number of illegal workers working in Hong Kong. So if we address the unemployment problem, we have to take account of a number of factors. I am concerned about the issue of illegal workers. Many employers, like those in the catering industry, construction works and transportation field, employ illegal workers and they just only pay very low wages by obtaining workers from the black market. According to the statistics of Immigration Department, there were 11900 over-stayers from January to April this year. They account for 15% of the total number of visitors coming into Hong Kong. The number of prosecutions of illegal workers during the same period was 3 670. as compared to 3287 last year. Given the upward trend of the employment of illegal workers, shouldn't the Government take some actions to clamp down on the illegal workers? I agree that we should safeguard the employment opportunities of Hong Kong workers and give priority to local workers for UC contracts. Since UC has a lot of major construction contracts, we should take care of the local workers first. The Government should step up other counselling work, like job training and clamp down on illegal workers, in order to safeguard the employment opportunities of local workers. So apart from the spirit of the motion which I support, I hope that different departments will do more in protecting the local workers. Page 161 of 185 Page 161 of 485 Page 161 of 485

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Page 161 of 485

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

137

contribution to various sectors of our economy such as the construction industry, service industry and manufacturing industry. If we do not allow them to work, we are in fact vetoing Government policy. Is this the proper way to exercise a power which has been given to us by the public and is our proposal for banning overseas workers illegal? We are in fact unnecessarily putting a blame on companies which employ overseas workers which violates the spirit of the Rule of Law. Will our production rate increase, our production cost decrease and our goods become more competitive as a result of this ban on employing overseas workers? Will factory owner's be attracted to put their factories back to Hong Kong or will they be forced to come back to Hong Kong? I certainly don't think so.

So, with these words, I oppose to the motion.

We discuss the issue of foreign labour today since many people cannot find jobs and face the threat of unemployment in Hong Kong. Some people think that it is because of the transformation of the Hong Kong economy. Some people say it is because of the importation of overseas labour while others say it is because of the number of illegal workers working in Hong Kong. So if we address the unemployment problem, we have to take account of a number of factors. I am concerned about the issue of illegal workers. Many employers, like those in the catering industry, construction works and transportation field, employ illegal workers and they just only pay very low wages by obtaining workers from the black market. According to the statistics of Immigration Department, there were 11900 over-stayers from January to April this year. They account for 15% of the total number of visitors coming into Hong Kong. The number of prosecutions of illegal workers during the same period was 3 670. as compared to 3287 last year. Given the upward trend of the employment of illegal workers, shouldn't the Government take some actions to clamp down on the illegal workers? I agree that we should safeguard the employment opportunities of Hong Kong workers and give priority to local workers for UC contracts. Since UC has a lot of major construction contracts, we should take care of the local workers first. The Government should step up other counselling work, like job training and clamp down on illegal workers, in order to safeguard the employment opportunities of local workers. So apart from the spirit of the motion which I support, I hope that different departments will do more in protecting the local workers.

1995 — Page 161

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