ENG-1999 — Page 173

EMPLOYMENT

related works contracts, the Government currently operates only the Supplementary Labour Scheme.

This scheme commenced on February 1, 1996. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure priority of employment for local workers, each application for imported workers has to pass three tests before it is submitted to the Secretary for Education and Manpower for a decision-advertising in newspapers, job-matching by the Labour Department for six weeks (plus tailor-made retraining course for workers, if possible), and consideration by the Labour Advisory Board. In all, 830 visas/entry permits were approved during the year and a cumulative total of 6 166 visa/entry permit applications had been approved by the end of 1999.

Admission of Talent

A new Admission of Talents Scheme has been introduced to attract talented people, especially those from the Mainland, to come to Hong Kong for employment. The aim is to enhance Hong Kong's competitive position as a technology-oriented manufacturing and services centre. Further details are set out in Chapter 22, Population and Immigration.

Foreign Domestic Helpers

Foreign domestic helpers may be admitted subject to the conditions that they have relevant experience, that their employers are bona fide Hong Kong residents who are prepared to offer reasonable terms of employment including suitable accommodation and wages not lower than a minimum level set by the Government, and that the employers are willing to provide for the maintenance of the helpers in Hong Kong as well as to meet the costs of repatriation of the helpers to their country of origin.

Demand for foreign domestic helpers has increased over the past two decades. By end of 1999, there were 193 700 such helpers in Hong Kong, representing an increase of 7.3 per cent when compared with the number of 180 604 in 1998. About 74 per cent of the foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong were from the Philippines.

After taking into account the views of local drivers' labour unions and employers of foreign domestic helpers, the Government decided to tighten the practice of allowing foreign domestic helpers to perform driving duties incidental to and arising from domestic duties. With effect from January 1, 2000, unless they obtained prior approval from the Immigration Department, employers of foreign domestic helpers under new contracts could not deploy their foreign domestic helpers to perform such driving duties. Foreign domestic helpers on existing contracts were not affected until their contacts expired.

Employment Agencies

The Labour Department's Employment Agencies Administration enforces Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations. It monitors the operation of employment agencies through licensing and inspection. In 1999, it issued 1 139 licences.

Employment Outside Hong Kong

The External Employment Service of the Labour Department administers the Contracts for Employment Outside Hong Kong Ordinance to safeguard the interests of local employees engaged to work outside Hong Kong for foreign employers. All

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