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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the importation of labour today (March 23):
Reporter: Mr Cheung, can you tell us more about the ground rules of allowing a yes or no to introduce foreign workers?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: There are three cardinal principles. First of all, we must not affect the interest of local workers. Secondly, we must not displace local job opportunities. And thirdly, importation of labour is not designed to suppress local wages. So it is on these three "no" basis that we import labour. As a matter of fact, we police the whole system rather strictly and stringently.
Reporter: So are we going to have the procedures simplified by having a list on hand? Are we going to...
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We will be consulting the Labour Advisory Board this week on proposals to relax the vetting procedures of Supplementary Labour Scheme with respect to applications for the construction industry, because we see a pressing need, in particular for construction. But we are talking about public works and railroad projects only, or public housing, not private projects. Because infrastructural development and housing development are important for Hong Kong's long-term future. So it is on a strict need basis that we will streamline the operation, and also improve the initial screening by the relevant departments, so that when they reach Labour Department, the time can be shortened, and the procedures can be properly streamlined. So at the end of the day we hope that these will shorten the application time for genuine applications.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, March 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:20
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