Good escalator and lift workers with sufficient experience can now apply for a training course helping them obtain permanent competent-worker status, Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says.

She told legislators today the course offers workers updated knowledge in theory and practice, adding the first class has already started, to be followed by a second soon.

The Government will consider workers' feedback and the training programme's effectiveness, and will keep close contact with the industry before deciding on enhancing the recognition mechanism for these workers in the future.

"We will not rule out the suggestion of amending the legislation concerned. In further considering this subject we will also take into account the correlation with the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance," Mrs Lam said.

Of the 4,525 competent escalator workers last year, 1,069 have permanent status, while 1,214 out of the 4,825 competent lift workers have the status.