Mr. Henry Yip
葉焯德先生
Hong Kong’s retail market has rebounded this year
after a three-year downward trend. While the retail
industry is anticipating a gradual business upturn in
2018, the manpower issue continues to hinder its
performance.
Despite business fluctuations, our industry has been
suffering an acute manpower shortage in recent
years. Our members are constantly telling us of their
difficulties in hiring talent at all levels. They find the
situation even more challenging when they venture
into e-commerce and omni-channel retailing, as they
struggle to find a qualified and job-ready pool of
home-groomed talent in these new areas.
Human capital is imperative for the success of Hong
Kong and its industries. This year the Association has
spared no efforts in urging the Government to adopt
a vigorous approach in fostering a well-balanced
resource of human capital as well as a sustainable
pool of employable workers. We suggest that the
Government reviews the Supplementary Labour
Scheme and seriously considers the importation of
labour on a sector-specific approach, particularly for
those severely-affected industries such as retail.
To compete in the global talent race, the Government
needs to step up its measures to attract and retain
young local and overseas talent. It should develop
effective platforms to inform young people about the
promising career opportunities offered by various
Hong Kong industries. To tackle the technical talent
shortage, we suggest the Government considers a
mechanism that allows companies to apply for the
importation of foreign talent.
In the long run, the Government should commit
additional resources to grooming a pool of local,
technology-savvy workers, and strengthen the
promotion of technical and vocational occupations to
students and parents, especially in those industries
that are relatively labour-intensive and require a
certain period of apprenticeship like retail.
香港零售市場經歷了三年低迷後，終於在今年觸底反彈。
雖然預料2018年零售業將逐漸好轉，但人手短缺的問題
依然窒礙零售業的發展，業界對人手短缺的憂慮仍然揮之
不去。
零售商除了要應付波動不定的營商環境，近年更要面對人
才嚴重短缺的問題。很多會員反映，各類人才不論職級高
低都難以招募，而隨著零售業邁進電子商務及全渠道零售
新時代，零售商對這方面的人才更付之闕如， 使面臨更
大的挑戰。
招攬合適人才是各行各業的營商致勝之道。本年度，協會
繼續不遺餘力，促請政府積極為零售業適度輸入人才，支
持業界持續發展。協會建議政府檢討「補充勞工計劃」，
認真考慮個別行業情況，尤其是對零售業這樣人才短缺嚴
重的行業輸入勞工。
面對世界各地求才若渴的競爭，香港更需要加強措施招賢
納士，吸引及挽留本地和海外的年輕人才。政府應利用有
效的平台薈萃精英，讓青少年深入認識
香港各行各業的良好就業前景，
使能盡展所長。為解決技術人
才短缺的問題，協會建議政府
考慮建立完善機制，讓公司
能申請輸入海外人才。
長遠而言，政府應增撥資源
去培育一批本地技術精英，同
時加強向學生及家長推廣
技術及在職培訓，特
別是零售業等需
要大量技術專業
人才的行業。
Vice-Chairman's Message
副主席之話
Grooming Retail Talent
培育新一代零售專才
47
