Hong Kong has brought in more than 800 minibus drivers from mainland China as part of a temporary solution to the city’s labour shortage, with operators hopeful the scheme will be extended to help plug gaps in the ageing workforce.

Minibus companies made the appeal after authorities reiterated that importing labour was only a “short-term” fix and that the workers were not meant to stay in the city in the long run.

The government launched the labour import scheme in 2023 for three sectors that had been hard hit by manpower shortages. The transport sector has been allowed to recruit up to 900 minibus drivers.

The Transport Department said it had approved the applications that it received from operators before March of last year.

About 830 drivers had arrived in the city as of April this year, with 800 having completed their training and received driving licences. The workers were given two-year contracts.

But minibus operators said they hoped the scheme would be extended to allow the imported drivers to remain employed for as long as possible.