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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
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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
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