Leung Chun-ying hints at plan to import labour for construction
Leung Chun-ying said the city could not rely solely on local workers to complete all the infrastructure work, which includes the northeastern New Territories development and expansion of the Tung Chung new town.
The Chief Executive yesterday dropped another hint that imported labour might be used to help build a string of big construction projects in the next few years.
"It would be hard to get all the construction projects done if we were to rely solely on the supply of local workers," Leung said at a Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce lunch.
"How can we find the right balance between the protection of local workers' interests and satisfying the labour demand of our society as a whole? That is the dilemma," said Leung.
Labour importation is under discussion in the consultation on the city's population policy, which proposes it in the face of an acute manpower shortage in some areas.
It was the second time this year that Leung had made such remarks. He gave a similar message in his question-andanswer session after the policy address in January.