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Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, to a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-kin in the Legislative Council today (April 30):
Question:
Under the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance (Cap. 460), no person is allowed to do security work for reward unless he has been issued with a Security Personnel Permit (Permit). According to the criteria set by the Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority (SGSIA), there is an upper age limit of 65 years for engaging in Category B security work (i.e. guarding work in respect of any persons, premises or properties, the performance of which does not require the carrying of arms and ammunition), whereas there is no upper age limit for engaging in Category A security work (i.e. guarding work restricted to a "single private residential building", the performance of which does not require the carrying of arms and ammunition). Therefore, once security guards holding Category B Permits have reached the age of 65, their Permits will not be renewed even if their employers want them to stay on and make representations to SGSIA. As a result, there is a shortfall of security guards holding Category B Permits in the market, rendering some employers being unable to recruit such kind of security guards. On the other hand, some security guards and employers have relayed to me that, although security guards holding Category B Permits may switch to apply for Category A Permits, the number of single private residential buildings is dwindling along with the redevelopment of old districts, resulting in fewer posts for Category A Permit holders who are therefore forced to retire at the age of 65, losing their means of livelihood. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it knows the current number of security guard posts available for Category B Permit holders across the territory and, among them, the number of those available for Category A Permit holders, with a breakdown by the 18 District Council districts;
(2) of the current number of Category A Permit holders who are above the age of 65;
(3) of the number of Category B Permit applications/renewal applications rejected in each of the past five years for the reason that the applicants were 65 years old or above; and
(4) whether the authorities will request SGSIA to (i) consider expanding the types of buildings for which Category A Permit holders, are allowed to perform guarding work, and (ii) consider, by drawing reference to the criteria for issuing Category A Permits, relaxing the upper age limit for Category B Permit holders; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Administration's consolidated reply to the issues raised is as follows:
The purpose of the Security and Guarding Services Ordinance (Cap 460) (the Ordinance) is to ensure, through a licensing system, that the quality of security and guarding services provided by personnel or companies are of a high standard, so as to assist the law enforcement agencies in preventing and detecting crimes, and protecting the lives and properties of the citizens.
According to the Ordinance, any person performing security work for reward must hold a valid Security Personnel Permit (SPP) issued by the Police. There are four categories (A, B, C and D) of SPP. Category B SPP covers a wide scope of security service. Its holders can perform guarding works which does not require the carrying of arms and ammunition in respect of any persons, premises (such as banks, shopping malls and commercial buildings) or properties. Taking into consideration the requirements on the personnel's physical ability and alertness to perform these types of guarding work, as well as the importance of such services to the community, the Administration set the current upper age limit for Category B SPP at 65 years old. Persons over 65 years old may apply for Category A SPP. Holders of Category A SPP may perform guarding work which does not require the carrying of arms and ammunition for "single private residential buildings" (SPRB). A SPRB means an independent structure used substantially for private residential purpose and with only one main access point. "Main access point" means the entrance gate or lift lobby or staircase commonly used by residents to gain access to their flats, excluding emergency and fire exit. Individual blocks of residential estates which have only one main access point usually comply with this definition.
According to record, in the past 5 years there was no application to the Police for Category B SPP from applicants at or above 65 years old. As at March 31, 2014, there were about 265 000 holders of Category B SPP. Among them, about 124 000 were employed to perform security and guarding work. We do not have statistics on job posts held by Category B permit holders. As at March 31, 2014, there were about 21 000 Category A permit holders at or above 65 years old.
In considering whether to relax the criteria for issuing SPP, the Administration need to pay heed to the purposes of the regulatory regime, as well as the quality and standard of security and guarding service. We would pay close attention to relevant public views, keep up our dialogue with the security and guarding service sector, and conduct reviews on a timely basis.
Ends/Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:46
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