Hong Kong should allow imported workers on smaller construction projects, as most firms benefit little in new scheme, contractor group says

Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association says ‘room for improvement’ in government bid to bring in 12,000 construction workers in fourth quarter

Association president Terence Ng calls for wider scope under new scheme, as first round only for public work projects with contract value of at least HK$1 billion

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Applications have opened for the first round of applications for the labour import scheme. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 10:18pm, 17 Jul 2023Updated: 12:23am, 18 Jul 2023

A group of Hong Kong contractors has appealed to the government to allow non-local construction workers to join small and medium private projects, arguing most companies in the sector benefited little from a new labour import scheme.

The Hong Kong General Building Contractors Association made the comments on Monday, as the first round of applications for the scheme opened.

“There is room for improvement in the scheme as most contractors do not benefit in the first round,” association president Terence Ng Choi-wah said.

A spokesman from the Development Bureau said it had not received any applications on the launch day, without elaborating whether the lack of interest was linked to most companies being closed because of a No 8 typhoon warning signal.

The scheme aims to bring in 12,000 construction workers – mainly from mainland China – to the city in the fourth quarter.

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