Importing labour is the only practical option for the building industry, according to Ho Sai-chu of the Liberal Party.
Although he acknowledged it was not ideal, Mr Ho said there would not be enough local labour to cope with the soaring demand for construction workers.
He was speaking on the second day of a debate on a motion of thanks moved by House Committee chairman Dr Leong Che-hung.
'If housing or infrastructure projects are delayed due to an inadequate supply of skilled workers, it will lead to an increase in costs,' Mr Ho said.
'The soaring costs will eventually be shifted to the citizens or buyers,' he said.
Mr Ho dismissed the Democratic Party's claims that local construction workers were already having a hard time finding jobs, and that importing more labour would deal them a further blow.
He attacked a recent Democratic Party survey as 'unscientific and unfair' because, he said, it was conducted in several restaurants frequented by jobless construction workers.