Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) at a media session after attending the kick-off ceremony of Giving for Good co-organised by Connecting Hearts and Tencent Foundation this afternoon (August 29):
 
Reporter: Regarding the catering company firing local workers after recruiting outside workers under the ESLS, first of all, has the Department offered any sort of assistance to the local workers who have been fired? And secondly, besides the two-year ban administrative sanction, will there be further penalties for the firm? Also, will the Department take a more proactive approach to investigate companies under the Scheme in the future instead of just reacting to complaints? Thank you.
 
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We have just issued a press release announcing the imposition of an administrative sanction against a company, which is involved in the catering business. After looking into a complaint filed to us, the involved company, after importing workers from outside into Hong Kong, has dismissed local workers after an investigation, including hearing the explanation given to us by the employer. The Labour Department has come to the view that the case is a real case, and it is substantial by facts in the investigation. So, based on the rules of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme, we have decided to impose an administrative sanction against the employer concerned. According to the laid-down rules, we are going to impose, first of all, a two-year ban against that employer from making applications in the coming two years. And also for the existing quota given to that company, it will also be void. This is a combination of two measures to make sure that we send a very strong signal to employers that they must comply with the rules and requirements of the Scheme. Of course, in the coming review, we will also look into suggestions over the exact terms of initiative sanctions, including whether or not the maximum ban should be kept at two years, or should it be further lengthened in order to maintain its power in enforcing the rules of the Scheme.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

Ends/Friday, August 29, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:12

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