In Brief
Job vacancy rate rises to record 3.1 per cent
Hong Kong's job vacancy rate rose to a record high 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, the latest survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management shows. This is 0.39 of a percentage point higher than the figure for the fourth quarter of last year. The overall turnover rate for the first quarter was 2.85 per cent, up 0.19 of a percentage point from the previous quarter. A total of 115 companies took part in the survey, which covered 124,000 workers. Institute president Lai Kam-tong said a higher percentage of vacancies meant there were more opportunities in the market. The survey showed the financial services sector, which experienced the highest job vacancy rate, also suffered shortages in manpower, a result of the tightening labour market.
Consultants to advise on competition law
The Economic Development and Labour Bureau has appointed Arculli Fong & Ng and an Australian law firm specialising in competition issues, Gilbert+Tobin, to provide expert services in preparation of a competition law. A government spokesman said the companies would provide advice on issues relating to the development of such a law, in particular referring to regulation in other jurisdictions. They would also advise on how to legislate for the effective implementation of Hong Kong's competition policy, including setting up an enforcement body and guidelines for implementing the law.
Sars and protest in top 10
The Sars outbreak and the pro-democracy demonstration on July 1, 2003, were voted among Hong Kong's top 10 post-handover events in a poll by 13 media groups. More than 100,000 residents, including 60,000 students and teachers, voted from a list of 20 key events last month. The handover ranked No 1 with more than 84,000 votes, followed by Sars, with the 2003 demonstration fifth.
