HONG KONG'S ABILITY to deploy skilled banking and finance personnel in the mainland could be crucial for local companies looking to capitalise on the opportunities presented by China's booming economy.
Leung Chun-ying, convenor of the Executive Council and chairman of property advisory firm DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, said the spate of staff shortages, particularly in accountancy, was just the beginning.
He was discussing the problem at a conference entitled 'Issues Affecting Corporate Performance', organised for management accountants last month.
Mr Leung also said that factors such as salary inflation, high turnover and impaired productivity would become more serious once international banks extended their mainland market coverage.
'We should ensure that the right talent is deployed on the mainland. We should ensure that mobility across the border is not hindered. We should, therefore, lower all barriers that can be lowered,' he said.
Successive phases of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa) had reduced or removed some barriers, but more could be done, particularly by broadening the scope of Hong Kong's education system, Mr Leung said.
