An aviation sector representative on Tuesday said she hopes imported staff will arrive in October and start working at the airport at the end of the year.

Vivien Lau, president of the Hong Kong Airline Service Providers Association, made the comment after 28 local aviation firms were given the green light to fill 2,800 positions – including passenger services officers and ramp services agents – through the government’s labour importation scheme.

"If the recruitment goes smoothly, we hope the first batch of imported staff will come in October or November. Then, each company will arrange some training for them which will take at least one or two months," she told an RTHK radio programme.

"So ideally we hope they will be able to work independently by Christmas, or maybe in January, in time for the peak season of the Lunar New Year."

Lau added that the companies are in discussion with mainland recruitment agencies, and are looking to arrange accommodation for the workers in Zhuhai.

Meanwhile, Wilson Kwong, chief executive of the Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited, said more imported workers are needed in the longer run if Hong Kong is to maintain its status as a cargo hub.

He said there are still many cargo handling and warehouse operation positions that need to be filled.

"We did well during Covid without imported workers. But with their help and as we continue to hire local workers, Hong Kong can do better and maintain our status as the busiest cargo airport," he said.

Kwong said the local aviation industry is booming, and believes many non-locals will be interested in working here.