'Imported staff too expensive for small caterers'
A catering trade representative on Tuesday said only bigger companies will benefit from new rules allowing the import of staff for the sector, because smaller firms won't be able to shoulder the costs involved. On an RTHK programme, Leung Chun-wah, chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, said he expects thousands of workers to be brought in under the enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme from Monday.  But he added that they won't be able to fill all the vacancies in the industry. "Employers have a lot of expenses, including housing and medical costs... Seeing a doctor in Hong Kong is very expensive. Medical costs will be a huge burden for the micro and small-sized companies. Many small firms I spoke to said they won't apply for the scheme," Leung said.  "But large and medium-sized companies will definitely apply, because they need a lot of manpower."