The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council Panel on Manpower visited the Construction Sector Imported Labour Quarters (the Quarters) in Tam Mi, Yuen Long, today (December 19) to better understand the Quarters' daily management and operating arrangements.
Members first took a coach ride to observe the overall environment of the Quarters. They then received a briefing on the overview of the Quarters by the Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Mr Albert Cheng. Members noted that the Development Bureau had commissioned CIC to convert and operate the Quarters, which was formerly a community isolation facility. The Quarters commenced operation in October this year. There are a total of 1 800 units to accommodate up to 7 000 workers under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector.
Accompanied by the Acting Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam, Members then visited the Quarters' dormitory unit, and toured facilities such as laundry rooms, pantries, toilets and bathrooms. Members also learnt that the imported workers travelled between the Quarters and construction sites point-to-point by shuttle buses arranged by their employers, and the travel would be completed before the morning rush hour started. Transportation on non-working days for imported labourers would also be arranged in batches at different time slots as necessary in order to minimise the impact on neighbouring communities.
Before concluding the visit, Members exchanged views with some imported workers to gain a deeper understanding on their work and daily lives in Hong Kong and the support they required. Members suggested stepping up the promotion of information on occupational safety and health, as well as employees' rights to imported workers while strengthening the provision of support measures to them.
Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Panel, Mr Luk Chung-hung; the Deputy Chairman, Mr Lam Chun-sing; and Panel members Mr Kwok Wai-keung, Mr Chau Siu-chung, Mr Dennis Leung, Mr Kingsley Wong and Dr Ngan Man-yu.
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