Five-day plan not to affect emergency services in HK: official

Hong Kong Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue said Saturday that the government's five- day week initiative will not lead to additional staff, cut working hours or affect emergency services.

Speaking on a radio talk show, Yue said 40 departments involved in the initiative's first phase have the necessary preparations to help the public get used to the new service hours.

Yue said about 72,000 civil servants will be involved in the first phase. The second and third phases will be launched next January and July next year, with about 10,000 civil servants involved in each phase.

When asked whether disciplined services' staff can join the five-day week initiative, Yue said the Fire Services Department has adopted it through shift arrangements.

She added that it enables fire officers to work five days a week while emergency services are still offered around the clock.

On civil service pay, Yue said the pay level survey, expected to be completed in the first half of next year, is being conducted with professionalism and high transparency.

The administration will keep close contact with civil service unions and survey results will be ready for consultation in this year's third quarter.

Yue said the review on the arrangements for 16,000 non-civil service staff will be finished by the end of this year and review findings will be tabled to lawmakers before deciding the way forward.

Source: Xinhua