The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (March 4) started his visit to Fuzhou, Fujian.

     Mr Sun first paid a courtesy call on the Executive Vice Governor of Fujian Province, Ms Guo Ningning this morning and updated her on Hong Kong's policy initiatives to recruit and support talent as well as the latest situation of the local labour market and economy. He then called on the Director of the Department of Commerce of Fujian Province, Mr Huang Heming, at a lunch gathering and exchanged views on the management, supervision and co-operation on importing labour to Hong Kong. He also met with recipients of the Fujian Scheme under the Social Security Allowance Scheme to understand the needs of Hong Kong elderly persons retiring in Fujian.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is implementing the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes, the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector, the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector and the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme to address acute manpower shortages across various sectors. If the prospective imported workers are Mainland residents, employers must recruit the imported workers through the enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong approved by the relevant Mainland authorities.

     Mr Sun attended a seminar this afternoon to get a better grasp of the practical experience of Fujian enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong under various labour importation schemes. They had focused discussions on how to make good use of different schemes to meet the recruitment needs of employers and protect the employment rights of imported workers in Hong Kong in parallel. Mr Sun said that the HKSAR Government engages the Labour Advisory Board periodically on the implementation of the sector-specific labour importation schemes and will conduct a review, with a view to fine-tuning the design and implementation details of the sector-specific labour importation schemes if necessary.

     This evening, Mr Sun and his delegation had dinner with representatives of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Fujian to learn more about the investment of Hong Kong businesses in Fujian as well as the necessary support for Hong Kong residents and enterprises. He encouraged enterprises and talent in Hong Kong and Fujian to strengthen exchange and co-operation to integrate into the overall national development.

     The delegation comprises the Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, Mr Anthony Lau, as well as representatives of the Labour Department. Mr Sun will continue his visit to Fujian tomorrow (March 5).

Ends/Monday, March 4, 2024
Issued at HKT 19:00

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