The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, said merging the Human Resources Office and the Labour Affairs Bureau could consolidate resources for better policy in non-resident workers and labour services.

But this would be decided after revision to the departments’ organisational law, he added.

Speaking to reporters after a committee meeting at the Legislative Assembly on 21 July, Mr Leong said that two departments, shared similar duties, had to step up communication following the change in number of non-resident workers and the formulation of law for non-resident workers.

On the “Protection of Creditor’s Rights Arising from Labour Relations”, Mr Leong said his team would strive to complete the legislation work within this legislative session, which will end in this October.

He said the meeting with members of the committee had reached consensus in the draft bill: the Government would deliver a final version in the coming few days to accelerate the legislative process.

The Human Resources Office was established in 2007, with the aims to conduct sustained analyses on the changes in human resources in labour market and administer applications for the importation of non-resident workers. Its establishment is in bids to centralise and enhance efficiency of processing and approving applications for importing non-resident workers, to help alleviate small- and medium-sized enterprises’ problems arising from shortage of human resources.