LCQ7: Labour importation in the lift and escalator industry
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Question:
The Government has been implementing the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (Scheme) since 2023. Among the lift and escalator-related trades for applying importation under the Scheme, there are three trades of skilled workers (i.e. lift and escalator mechanic (master), lift mechanic and escalator mechanic) and one trade of technicians (i.e. lift/escalator technician). On the other hand, a union of lift and escalator employees has recently indicated that it hopes the Scheme can effectively ensure "priority employment for local lift and escalator workers". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) from 2023 to March of this year, of the number of (i) lift and escalator mechanics (master), (ii) lift mechanics, (iii) escalator mechanics, and (iv) lift/escalator technicians imported annually under the Scheme (set out in the table below);
| Year | (i) | (ii) | (iii) | (iv) |
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | ||||
| January to March 2025 |
(2) given that the Scheme requires imported lift and escalator mechanics (master), lift mechanics, escalator mechanics, and lift/escalator technicians to have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience, of the documentary proof required by the Government to verify the length of experience of such skilled workers/technicians; whether there are cases where such skilled workers/technicians fail to provide documentary proof of their length of experience; if so, of the criteria adopted by the Government to verify the length of experience of such skilled workers/technicians; and
(3) as it is learnt that the current qualification requirements for lift/escalator technicians in Hong Kong include holding a valid registration as a lift/escalator worker under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Cap. 618), whether the Government has, regarding the verification of the qualifications of such technicians under the Scheme, established a system for mutual recognition of professional qualifications with other regions and countries; of the current procedure for the Government to verify the professional qualifications of each imported lift/escalator technician (including the documents required to be submitted by them)?
Reply:
President,
To address the manpower shortage in the construction industry, the HKSAR Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach, including enhancing local training and recruitment, promoting the application of technology in the industry to enhance its overall productivity and under the principle of ensuring employment priority for local labour, implementing the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector (the Scheme) as a supplementary measure to fill the manpower gap.
The Scheme was launched in July 2023 with various requirements to safeguard employment priority for local labour, including:
(i) The approval would be given with due consideration of whether there is a genuine importation need for each application and whether local recruitment has been conducted as per the requirements of the Scheme and still could not recruit sufficient local personnel;
(ii) Local recruitment must be conducted through designated means, and the salary for the positions must not be lower than the prevailing median monthly wage of local labour engaged in similar positions as announced by the Development Bureau;
(iii) All imported labour must meet the same qualification requirements as those for the local labour engaged in similar work, including the required relevant working experience, number of working days and working hours, and the relevant working experience must be supported by documentary proof required by the relevant authorities; and
(iv) Manning ratio: The works project approved with quotas for imported labour must comply with a minimum ratio of 1:2, i.e., one imported labour to at least two full-time local labour.
In response to this question, after consulting the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), the reply is as follows:
(1) The Scheme has a quota ceiling of 12 000. Quota allocation is on a rolling basis, i.e. quotas will be released for new applications after the completion of the relevant work activities. As of end March 2025, there were a total of 177 approved quotas for importation of lift/escalator mechanics (one of the trades of skilled workers) under the Scheme. Details are at Annex.
Also, no application for importing lift/escalator technicians (one of the positions of technicians) has been received under the Scheme so far.
(2) Employers intending to import labour under the Scheme must first apply for quotas from the Development Bureau.
Upon the approval of quota, the employer shall arrange for prospective labour to be imported to each submit a visa/entry permit application to the ImmD within the period specified in the Notice of Quota Application Result. When submitting the visa/entry permit application, the applicant is responsible for providing sufficient information for the ImmD's consideration. The required documents include proof of relevant working experience, such as reference letter from the employer on company letterhead paper, signed by an authorised person, and endorsed with a company stamp. The ImmD has been having rigorous assessments of applications for visas/entry permits. Same as the practice for processing visa/entry permit applications of imported labour, if necessary, the ImmD would consult relevant policy bureaux/departments on the proof of relevant working experience and would follow up as required by the policy bureaux/departments.
Generally the imported lift/escalator mechanics could provide the documentary proof of the relevant working experience as required under the Scheme. They must work under the instruction and supervision of locally qualified personnel specified under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (Cap. 583).
(3) The job positions of lift/escalator technicians eligible for importation of labour under the Scheme refer to general technicians (who are normally responsible for technical support on lift/escalator works including preparation, revision, proofreading and submission of drawings and other related technical documents), and do not include technical professionals responsible for the installation, maintenance and examination of lifts and escalators under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Cap. 618). The lift/escalator technicians approved under the Scheme (if any) shall provide to the ImmD with proof of relevant working experience required for technicians (such as reference letter from the employer on company letterhead paper, signed by an authorised person, and endorsed with a company stamp), and shall also only work under the supervision of locally qualified personnel specified under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance.
Both imported and local technical professionals responsible for the installation, maintenance and examination of lifts and escalators under the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance shall be registered according to the Lifts and Escalators Ordinance before they can perform the duty of relevant technical professionals. Currently, these non-local technical professionals could only apply to work in Hong Kong via the newly established Technical Professional List under the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals. Same as local technical professionals, imported technical professionals need to meet the specified requirements for successful registration after arriving in Hong Kong, including (i) at least eight years of experience as a lift/escalator worker covering installation, maintenance and examination works as specified by the EMSD, or possessing qualification of a certificate course recognised by the EMSD and at least four years of experience as a lift/escalator worker covering installation, maintenance and examination works as specified by the EMSD; (ii) holding a certificate of qualification recognised by his/her place of origin for working as a lift/escalator worker; and (iii) having passed the relevant test recognised by the EMSD. Owing to the higher technical level required for these technical professional works, relevant working experience obtained before entry to Hong Kong must be supported, on top of the aforementioned documentary proof (such as reference letter from the employer), by third-party (e.g. notary public) certificates of verification.
According to the relevant legislation, the registration requirements of the technical professionals mentioned above mainly include relevant working experience and passing the aforementioned test held in Hong Kong, so the verification of fulfilling the requirement is mainly through documentary evidence and test without the need for additional recognition of professional qualifications.
Ends/Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:35
Issued at HKT 17:35
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