HONG KONG: Professionals from Hong Kong and overseas working on the mainland have seen their wages slump as local workers become more competitive, a survey by the Hong Kong Baptist University and Hong Kong People Management Association has said.

In the special administrative region (SAR), however, salaries for professionals have continued to rise, increasing by 7.4 percent last year and 7.9 percent this year.

Of the 85 companies surveyed in 10 mainland cities, 38 employed Hongkongers as managers, 26 as supervisors and seven as general staff.

Between the second half of 2006 and first half of this year, managers' salaries fell 15.4 percent from 674,465 yuan ($90,000) to 570,841 yuan, while supervisors' wages were down 25.3 percent from 353,013 yuan to 263,620 yuan.

The average wage for general staff rose 25.7 percent over the same period, from 211,225 yuan to 265,504 yuan.

In the same period, the 183 overseas staff employed by 13 mainland companies also saw their salaries decline.

Managers took an average pay cut of 14.8 percent, from 1.05 million yuan to 894,719 yuan, while supervisors saw their pay fall 25.5 percent, from 569,956 yuan to 424,656 yuan.

Pauline Chung, vice-president of the Hong Kong People Management Association, said the nation's rapid development had resulted in improved manpower resources, which meant mainland firms were no longer so reliant on Hong Kong and expatriate staff.

"There are more overseas educated mainlanders returning to the country.

"They have good English skills and their professional knowledge is on a par with Hong Kong people. Mainlanders have received higher education and are quick to learn new things," she said.

(China Daily 10/26/2007 page4)