President, today I speak in support of Mr SHIU Ka-fai’s original motion. Please allow me to stress that the reason for Mr SHIU proposing the motion today is to call on the SAR Government to face up to the crux of the problem. It is because first, the persistent manpower shortage across sectors is an indisputable fact; second, as population ageing in Hong Kong will deteriorate to a worse state by 2028, Hong Kong needs to continue to suitably bring in talents and labour from outside to fill the manpower and skills gaps, so as to bolster economic development. 

The Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (“ESLS”) of the Labour Department has been accepting applications since September 2023 to allow the importation of workers for 26 non-skilled and low-skilled job categories. According to the figures from the Labour and Welfare Bureau, as at the end of February this year, a quota of 51 000 had been granted. Cases involving jobs in the catering industry took up the largest share, numbering up to 21 000, which included more than 10 000 cooks, 8 500 waiters and 2 500 dishwashers. However, the catering industry needs more than 200 000 workers, so the number of imported workers, which I believe represents only one-tenth of the demand, is still far from sufficient. Therefore, I am really puzzled by some colleagues’ remarks that we are dismissing workers because of labour importation. We have a keen demand for manpower, and the scheme is certainly helpful in easing the problem. I would like to thank the Government for this. It has been one and a half years since the scheme was launched, and we think there are quite a number of areas that need to be enhanced to achieve real effectiveness.

President, we call for a review of the requirement that the wages of imported labour should not be lower than the median monthly wages of relevant posts in Hong Kong, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness. Many industry practitioners have pointed out that the cost of wages at no less than median wages, coupled with the retraining levy of about $9,600 for each imported worker on a two-year contract, accommodation costs and other recruitment-related expenses, has greatly increased the overall cost of importing workers, thus reducing the effectiveness of ESLS in lowering the operating costs of local enterprises and enhancing their competitiveness. 

The catering industry, which I represent, is now facing some practical problems. Their operating costs increase as median wages have risen in the interim between the submission and approval of their applications for labour importation, and this has greatly upset the budgets made by industry players at the time of application. Moreover, as median wages continue to rise, the wages of workers imported under more recent applications will be higher than the wages of those employed earlier, resulting in unequal pay for equal work, which can easily lead to conflicts among colleagues and even dampen team spirit. 

President, the Liberal Party (“LP”) has all along been advocating a more flexible approach for the requirement of providing accommodation for imported workers. We do not mean to worsen the living conditions of imported workers. Under the existing requirement, employers are required to provide imported workers with accommodation in Hong Kong or the Mainland, or allow them to live in their homes in the Mainland.  We believe that the scheme should provide more flexibility by allowing imported workers to live in the accommodation provided by their relatives and friends in Hong Kong. This suggestion is worth considering as it can reduce the difficulties faced by employers in finding suitable accommodation and enable imported workers and their relatives and friends to take care of each other. 

Lastly, I would like to stress that LP’s call for enhancement to ESLS is not for the sake of employers’ wallets because they are duty bound to pay reasonable wages. Persistently rising costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers and lead to price hikes, with all Hong Kong people having to suffer the consequences. We hope that an enhanced ESLS will support the economy and boost Hong Kong’s competitiveness. This is the original intent of Mr SHIU Ka-fai’s motion. Just now, I heard a few colleagues (such as Mr CHAU Siu-chung, Mr LEUNG Man-kwong and other Members representing labour unions) pointing out that Mr SHIU supported the median wage requirement two years ago and questioning why he does not support it now. It is precisely because we see the flaws of the median wage requirement, and we believe that a review is necessary to maintain Hong Kong’s competitiveness. For those who say that we are dismissing local workers because of labour importation, please provide specific cases. Some others say that many people cannot find a job. Over the years in this position as a Member, I have always made it clear to all the labour union representatives that anyone unable to find a job in the catering industry nowadays is welcome to approach me, and I will find a job for him. Please stop saying that “it is hard to find jobs”.

President, I so submit.