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The Fire Services Department (FSD) will launch a phased trial scheme from March 15 (Friday) on the department's new proposal to reduce the conditioned working hours of Fire Stream members to 51 hours per week (the "New 51 Proposal").
A spokesman for the FSD said today (March 13) that the new proposal was formulated taking into account operational experience in recent years with regard to the enhanced functionalities of the fire appliances/equipment currently available, as well as the adoption of various efficiency measures. One of the key principles of the scheme is to maintain the level of service provided to the public and the level of safety of front-line staff. The FSD will complement the manpower streamlining measures with appropriate resource deployment to ensure that sufficient manpower is available to meet the requirements at the scene for fire fighting and rescue operations.
By implementing these measures, operational fire personnel of divisions participating in the trial scheme will be able to enjoy more rota leave. Their conditioned working hours will also be reduced from 54 hours to 51 hours per week.
The spokesman said the trial scheme will be launched in three phases. Phase 1, to be launched from March 15, will involve Fire Stream staff in the Hong Kong Command including all land divisions on Hong Kong Island, the Marine and Offshore Islands Division and the Diving Unit. Phase 2 is expected to start from June 25 and more divisions will be included as appropriate. The duration of Phases 1 and 2 will be subject to extension if the situation so requires. Subject to the satisfactory completion of phases 1 and 2, phase 3 is expected to commence from October 5 and the trial will be extended to cover all operational Fire Stream members in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories commands. In general, this phase may last for up to three years, but the FSD will seek to shorten the duration, depending on the progress of the trial scheme.
The spokesman reiterated that in formulating the trial scheme of the "New 51 Proposal", the management had carefully considered various factors including operational efficiency, the safety of front-line staff and the target response time, and is confident that the reduction in conditioned working hours can be achieved having regard to the three principles (cost-neutrality, no additional manpower, and maintaining the same level of service to the public). During the trial, the FSD management will closely monitor the implementation of the measures and staff feedback and will ensure that the level of service provided to the public will be maintained.
The spokesman said that upon successful completion of the trial scheme and subject to the final endorsement for the FSD to reduce the conditioned working hours of operational staff in the Fire Stream to 51 hours per week, the FSD would study the feasibility of further reducing their weekly conditioned working hours to 48 hours.
Ends/Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:48
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