ENG-2002 — Page 190

142

EMPLOYMENT

The department applies the policy in a flexible manner. Genuine business persons and entrepreneurs are welcome to establish a presence in Hong Kong, bringing with them capital and expertise. Qualified professionals, technical staff, administrators and managerial personnel are also admitted with minimum formalities. During the year, 16 929 foreign professionals and persons with technical, administrative or managerial skills from more than 100 countries/territories were admitted for employment.

Importation of Labour

Apart from the above, a Supplementary Labour Scheme is operated for the importation of workers who do not fall under the general policy on entry for employment. The Government's policy on importation of labour is based on two cardinal principles:

(a) local workers must be given priority in filling job vacancies available in the job

market; and

(b) employers who are genuinely unable to recruit local workers to fill their job

vacancies should be allowed to import workers.

This scheme commenced in February 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 Labour Advisory Board for consideration and the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour for a decision-advertising in newspapers, job-matching by the Labour Department for four weeks, and tailor-made retraining course for workers, if appropriate. In all, 817 visas/entry permits were approved during the year and a cumulative total of 9 566 visa/entry permit applications had been approved by the end of 2002.

Admission of Talents

The Admission of Talents Scheme was introduced in December 1999 to attract talented people, especially those from the Mainland, to come to Hong Kong for employment. The aim of the scheme is to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness as a manufacturing and services centre, in particular in technology-based, knowledge- intensive, and value-added activities. Further details are set out in Chapter 20, Population and Immigration.

Admission of Mainland Professionals

The Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme was introduced in June 2001. The scheme aims to attract Mainland professionals to come to work in Hong Kong in order to meet local manpower needs and to enhance the competitiveness of local companies in the globalised market with a view to facilitating the economic development of Hong Kong. Further details of this scheme are given in Chapter 20.

Admission of Mainland Students Graduated from University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded Institutions in Hong Kong

With effect from August 1, 2001, Mainland students graduated from UGC-funded institutions since 1990 may be admitted for employment, provided that they possess a special skill, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong and are employed with a remuneration broadly commensurate with the market level. The objective of this arrangement is to attract outstanding Mainland students