A leader of a union representing aviation workers on Thursday said the government's plan to bring in thousands of non-local airport staff could lead to an exodus of existing employees.

Shum Wai-hong, vice-chairman of the Airport Air Freight Employees’ Association, said instead of importing workers, the pay and conditions for local staff should be improved.

Speaking on RTHK two days after officials announced plans to bring in 6,300 airport staff from outside the SAR, Shum said the news has left many local workers feeling discouraged.

"When the frontline airport staff hear the plan to import 6,300 outside workers, they don't feel so good because they have just gone through three years of the pandemic," he said.

"The airport has just returned to normality and they finally see the light. They have gone through ups and downs with the airport. Everyone is worried that the labour import scheme will affect their jobs."

However, president of the Hong Kong Airline Service Providers Association Vivien Lau told the same RTHK programme that the outside workers will fill a manpower gap ahead of the launch of Chek Lap Kok's three-runway system next year.

Lau added, however, that more should be done to retain local staff and attract young people to join the industry.