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******************************************** Following is a question by the Hon Bernard Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (December 6): Question: The Chief Executive stated in his Policy Address this year that "the Government will consider further promoting flexitime to enable working parents to spend more time with their children and to participate more actively in school affairs and activities organized by parent-teacher associations". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (a) of the bureaux and departments which allow their staff to work flexitime; and the ranks and grades of the eligible staff; (b) whether it has reviewed the impact of staff working flexitime on the services provided by the bureaux and departments concerned; if so, of the findings of these reviews; and (c) of the actions it will take to promote flexitime within and outside the Government? Reply: The Civil Service has been using flexitime arrangements for over 20 years. The Civil Service flexitime is based around "core operating hours" within which all officers must be present at work. Outside these core hours, departments may adopt a number of flexible working arrangements. These vary in flexibility from officers being allowed to choose the starting time of work each day which then determines the finishing time to a "staggered working hours" system under which officers may choose from a prescribed number of alternative starting/finishing times. The intention of having these flexitime arrangements is to balance the operational needs of departments with officers' personal/family needs. Our response to the three points raised in the question is as follows: (a) Departments may adopt the arrangements which are most appropriate to their operations. At present, 65 bureaux and departments (details at Annex) adopt one or more of the above flexitime arrangements. Over 160 grades (450 ranks) are involved. (b) The Government monitors the use of flexitime in the Civil Service and has reviewed the arrangements from time to time. The fundamental principle is that whichever system is used, there must be no adverse impact on the quality of service and convenience to the public or departmental efficiency. In addition, bureaux and departments are required to set the core operating time most appropriate to their operational need; and the overall conditioned working hours of officers must not be reduced. We are satisfied that the bureaux and departments concerned adhere to these principles. (c) The Government will continue to explore opportunities for greater use of flexitime arrangements within the Civil Service. Bureaux and departments will be encouraged to take a positive approach to their flexitime arrangements. The Labour Department will help promote flexitime outside the government through the department's promotional and training functions which include seminars, training courses on good people management practices and personnel management clubs meetings which are specially targeted at human resources management personnel. The department will also promote the benefits of flexitime arrangement at the industry level through the tripartite committees which are represented by employers organisations, trade unions and the government. All these promotional efforts should help cultivate a more positive reception of flexitime work arrangement and encourage more organisations to adopt flexitime work practices. In addition, the Education and Manpower Bureau will work with the Business Coalition on Education to encourage employers to grant time-off for working parents to participate in school activities, and to promote flexitime, where necessary, to facilitate child care. Annex ----- Bureaux and departments adopting some form of flexitime Bureaux Civil Service Bureau Commerce and Industry Bureau Constitutional Affairs Bureau Education & Manpower Bureau Health & Welfare Bureau Housing Bureau Information Technology & Broadcasting Bureau Planning & Lands Bureau Security Bureau Transport Bureau Works Bureau (11) Departments Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department Architectural Services Department Auxiliary Medical Services Buildings Department Census & Statistics Department Civil Aviation Department Civil Engineering Department Civil Service Training & Development Institute Correctional Services Department Customs & Excise Department Department of Health Drainage Services Department Education Department Electrical & Mechanical Service Department Environmental Protection Department Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Government Flying Service Government Land Transport Administrator Government Property Agency Government Supplies Department Highways Department Home Affairs Department Hong Kong Monetary Authority Hong Kong Police Force Housing Department Immigration Department Independent Commission Against Corruption Independent Police Complaints Council Information Technology Services Department Innovation & Technology Department Intellectual Property Department Judiciary Labour Department Lands Department Leisure & Cultural Services Department Marine Department Office of the, Telecommunications Authority Official Languages Agency Official Receiver's Office Planning Department Printing Department Radio Television Hong Kong Rating & Valuation Department Social Welfare Department Standing Committee on Civil Service Salaries & Conditions of Service Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service Student Financial Assistant Agency Territory Development Department The Ombudsman Trade & Industry Department Transport Department Treasury University Grants Committee Water Supplies Department (54) Total : 65 End/Wednesday, December 6, 2000 NNNN
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