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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, to a question on manpower of the Fire Services Department by the Hon Li Fung-ying in the Legislative Council today (January 16):
Question:
It has been reported that the Ambulancemen Grade and the Fire Services Communications Centre of the Fire Services Department are both experiencing the problem of manpower shortage. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of staff who departed and who newly joined the above Communications Centre in the past three years, broken down by rank;
(b) focusing on the current problem of manpower shortage, how the authorities make appropriate arrangements for mobilising emergency ambulances; and
(c) whether, in view of the above problem of manpower shortage, the authorities have taken measures to retain staff; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Fire Services Communication Centre (FSCC) of the Fire Services Department (FSD) is responsible for the dispatch of fire appliances and ambulances. The number of departed staff members and the number of new recruits in the FSCC, broken down by their rank, in the past three financial years are given in the table below -
Number of Departed Number of New
Staff Members Recruits
------------------- --------------------
2005 2006 2007 2005 2006 2007
-06 -07 -08 -06 -07 -08
(Note 1) (Note 1)
---- ---- -------- ---- ---- --------
Senior 4 4 1 4 5 0
Station
Officer/
Station
Officer
(Control)
Principal 2 1 3 Not Applicable
Fireman
(Control)
(Note 2)
Senior 7 7 3 10 0 22
Fireman
(Control)
(Note 1): Up to December 31, 2007
(Note 2): Principal Fireman (Control) is not an entry rank.
(b) FSD's performance pledge in respect of emergency ambulance calls is for its ambulances to arrive at the scene within 12 minutes for 92.5% of such calls. In 2007, FSD's ambulances managed to arrive at the scene within 12 minutes for 92.8% of all emergency calls received in that year. This indicates that the operation of the FSCC and the emergency ambulance service is in order.
Notwithstanding this, FSD has already taken action (by making internal staff redeployment and offering overtime allowances, where necessary) to ensure the availability of adequate manpower in FSCC during all service hours for the handling of ambulance dispatch to meet the demands of emergency ambulance calls. Moreover, FSD has also successfully recruited new staff to fill the existing vacancies. Twenty two newly-recruited Senior Firemen (Control) are expected to complete their induction training by the end of January this year and will be ready for deployment to FSCC.
(c) Generally speaking, the Administration always strives to attract and retain talents by offering reasonable remuneration and benefits, and suitable training and promotion prospects. Individual departments will also put in place effective measures to enhance the sense of belonging and job satisfaction of their staff in light of the actual situation and need.
As regards the FSCC, FSD has implemented a number of staff retention measures, which include -
* Meeting the staff of the FSCC and the representatives of their staff union frequently to solicit their views for further improving the mode of operation and the working environment of the FSCC;
* Posting of the staff of the Control Stream to various posts outside the FSCC on a regular basis to give them the opportunity to deal with different types of communication and control work;
* Providing internal training to the staff of the FSCC to maintain or enhance their skills and performance at work;
* According recognition and commendation to staff with good performance; and
* Explaining to the staff of FSCC the mechanism for their promotion to enhance transparency and fairness.
Ends/Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:51
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