The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, today emphasised that the Government was in close touch with the gaming operator in seeking ways to minimise the effect on some 200 staff that were laid off several days ago.

Mr Tam said this after he met with legislators Mr Ng Kuok Cheong and Mr Au Kam San to hear their opinions on the issue, the management of foreign labour and on the labour policy.

He said their suggestions were similar to the Government's consistent planning, and that would be a reference for policy making in the future. He stressed that the Government was open to all suggestions.

On the lay off, Mr Tam reasserted that the Labour Affairs Bureau had made some suggestions to the gaming operator, but whether they would be accepted was up to the operator.

He said the Government's long-term goal was to prevent lay offs.

On the recruitment of foreign labour, Mr Tam stressed that the aim was to supplement the lack of local manpower.

Over the past year, both gaming profits and the scope of the industry were increasing, the proportion of local staff to foreign workers was one of the main subject the Government studied to review the development of the industry, said Mr Tam.