Last updated at 6pm: Training local workers will be at the forefront of the Government's plans to tackle unemployment, but more professionals from the mainland will be allowed in to cover the shortfall, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said in his 2001/2 Budget address.
He announced a $300 million fund to subsidise training initiatives for small and medium-sized firms and urged employers to provide suitable opportunities for their staff to upgrade their skills.
Employers ''must be prepared to employ less-experienced staff and provide them with on-the-job training. ''Individuals must recognise the challenges ahead and take full advantage of the training opportunities available,'' he said.
The Government, as the largest employer in Hong Kong, would do its part by spending $50 million more on civil servant training.
But Hong Kong will still face a shortage of 120,000 highly educated workers over the next five years, Mr Tsang told the Legislative Council.
To cope with that, he announced plans to relax restrictions on professionals from the mainland coming to work in Hong Kong.