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Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Ting and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Planning and Lands, Mr Thomas Tso, in the Legislative Council today (July 11):

Question:

It has been reported that, according to the results of a survey conducted recently, two per cent of the respondents are now working in Shenzhen while nearly 10 per cent of them will consider working there in the next five years. Regarding Hong Kong residents working in the Mainland and the formulation of corresponding assistance measures, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a) it has conducted formal assessments on the number of Hong Kong residents who will go to work in the Mainland in the next few years and the specific impact of this situation on the economy of Hong Kong; if it has, of the assessment results; if not, whether it will do so as soon as possible; and

(b) it will strengthen the communication and cooperation with the Mainland authorities to work out more forward-looking measures, so as to improve the cross-border traffic network and assist Hong Kong residents in overcoming the difficulties encountered while working in the Mainland?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Surveys on Hong Kong residents working in the Mainland have been conducted from time to time by the Census and Statistics Department (the C&SD) since 1988 to estimate the number of local residents working in the Mainland and to collect related information. The most recent survey was carried out between April and June this year and the data collected are being analysed by the C&SD. Based on the results of the last survey conducted between May and June 1998, it is estimated that about 157,000 Hong Kong residents had worked in the Mainland during the 12 months preceding the survey.

Following the vigorous economic growth and reforms for further opening-up in the Mainland, the trading and commercial relationship between Hong Kong and the Mainland will become closer and the number of Hong Kong residents working in the Mainland will further increase. Added with China's accession to the World Trade Organization and the implementation of the tenth Five-year Plan, these will together bring about extensive and ample business opportunities for Hong Kong, thereby creating more job opportunities for Hong Kong residents. Moreover, as the posts taken up by Hong Kong residents in the Mainland are mostly professional, managerial and supervisory in nature, the skills required of them are comparatively higher, so is the remuneration offered. All these will help to enhance the occupational skills, areas of employment and level of earning of Hong Kong residents.

(b) The SAR Government has been liaising with the Mainland authorities on issues of cooperation, including improvement to the cross-border traffic network. On road transport, discussion is underway between the SAR Government and the relevant Mainland authorities on the construction of the fourth cross-border link, i.e. the Shenzhen Western Corridor running from the west of New Territories to Shekou in Shenzhen. On rail transport, the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line will serve as a second cross-boundary railway. For the longer term, the Railway Development Strategy 2000 recommends the development of three additional cross-boundary railways, which are the Northern Link and the Regional Express Line providing passenger service, and the Port Rail Line providing cargo service. We will work closely with the Mainland authorities to ensure integration between these projects and the Mainland traffic network. On air transport, the Airport Authority maintains regular contact with its counterparts in Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to discuss matters of cooperation in passenger, cargo and mixed transport services.

Under the existing mechanism, if Hong Kong residents are involved in an accident, have lost their identification documents or are subject to criminal compulsory measures in the Mainland, or wish to make complaints or requests to the Mainland authorities, the Security Bureau, the Constitutional Affairs Bureau, the Office of HKSARG in Beijing and the Immigration Department will provide appropriate assistance to them having regard to the nature of each case. The assistance may include the provision of information on the channels of complaints in the Mainland and the referral of complaints to the relevant Mainland authorities for action.

End/Wednesday, July 11, 2001

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