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Government starts phasing in a five-day week on July 1
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    The Government will move to a five-day week in phases starting from July 1, 2006.

     At a press conference today (May 8), the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue said the five-day week initiative involved working on weekdays and resting on Saturdays and Sundays. It aimed to reduce the pressure of the work force in the Government and improve the quality of their family lives, without impairing operational efficiency.

     "We will maintain the overall level and efficiency of government services. Emergency and essential services will not be affected by the new work pattern, Miss Yue said.

     "We believe that the initiative will bolster civil service morale, promote social harmony and bring about positive impact on the community.

     "The Government has no plan to mandate a five-day week in Hong Kong," she said.

     Explaining the implementation details, the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service (Special Duties), Mrs Rebecca Lai said in taking forward this initiative, the Government adhered to four basic principles:

*   no additional staffing resources;

*   no reduction in the conditioned hours of service of individual staff;

*   no reduction in emergency services; and

* continued provision of some essential counter services on Saturdays.

     Under phase one starting on July 1, 2006, two main types of work units will be closed on Saturdays - back-offices, offices providing in-house professional and administrative services; and units offering services to the public which were not in great demand on Saturdays and their non-provision would have no significant impact on the public.

     Their opening hours will be extended on weekdays to fully compensate for the hours on Saturdays. In addition, internet services, drop-in boxes and alternative payment channels will be made available or further enhanced to facilitate business transactions with the Government.

    Examples of services that will no longer be provided on Saturdays from July 1 include licencing services of the Transport Department, counter services of the Inland Revenue Department/Rating and Valuation Department, Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department, public enquiries and applications for public rental housing and various business-related licences/permits applications services provided by the Buildings Department, Environmental Protection Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Trade and Industry Department and Customs and Excise Department, etc.

     "We will closely monitor the operation of the five-day week and fine-tune the arrangement as necessary following implementation," she said.

     Mrs Lai said that for the time being, the more in-demand services would continue to be provided on Saturdays. Examples are immigration-related counter services (for registration of births and deaths, marriage ceremonies, ID card/visa/passport applications), mail delivery and post office counter services, job centres, occupational health clinics, Social Welfare Department's family services, environmental hygiene services, libraries, and recreational facilities.

     Law enforcement, rescue services, and maintenance of public order would continue to be provided round the clock, she said.

     Upon the implementation of phase one, some 59,000 staff would work longer on weekdays but their total working hours per week would remain unchanged, she said.

     Mrs Lai noted that separate from the five-day work initiative, some 11,100 staff already worked to roster systems which involved five shifts or less per week. Another 3,400 staff would have their duty pattern adjusted to five shifts or less per week.  In other words, about 73,500 staff will work five days/shifts per week from July, 2006.

      "This arrangement has no impact on the public as the concerned services will continue to be maintained on Saturdays - and even Sundays as appropriate," she said.

     Mrs Lai said more services would migrate to the five-day week pattern in subsequent phases, starting in January, 2007, and July, 2007. The aim was to complete the migration by July, 2007.

     "At this stage and subject to further examination by bureaux and departments, it may be possible for another 15,000 staff to switch to a five-day week by July, 2007.

     "Separately, bureaux and departments are working on the feasibility of using the roster arrangement to enable more staff to work five shifts per week. By July, 2007, it may be possible for 92,600 staff to work five days or shifts per week," she said.

     Mrs Lai said relevant departments would reach out to their clients and the public between now and July 1, 2006, to publicise their new opening hours.

     For details of the government five-day week arrangements, people can browse over a dedicated website (www.info.gov.hk/info/5day/) or make enquiries to the 24-hour 1823 Citizen's Easy Link.


Ends/Monday, May 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:38

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