The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) will launch the Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree/Professional Grades) (Digitalised BLNST), which prospective applicants can apply for through the online application system on the CSB website starting from tomorrow (May 21) at 9am for the examination to be held from May 23 onwards.

     The examination will be conducted by computer at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office of the CSB. There are six examination timeslots per working day, and it is estimated that around 60 000 examination quotas will be provided each year.

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Further to the digitalisation of application for designated civil service posts, the digitalisation of the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) is another example of applying technologies to enhance efficiency. The Digitalised BLNST was designed from the users' perspective, enabling candidates to submit online applications for examination anytime and sit for the examination at their own selected timeslots as early as possible. Candidates will no longer be confined to the fixed thrice-per-year examination schedule and the paper-based examination. They can also obtain the result through e-mail on the day of examination, which is more convenient and efficient as compared with the previous arrangement of issuing the examination result by post. The arrangement not only saves time on paperwork but also is more environmentally friendly. This is a win-win situation for both the candidates and the recruiting departments."

     She said, "The Bureau will flexibly deploy existing resources and manpower, as well as better arrangements and use of venue to implement the digitalised examination. This arrangement can also reduce the expenditure for hiring part-time invigilators and related administrative expenses for setting up temporary examination centres. In the long run, we will review the operational arrangement with a view to actively exploring the feasibility of digitalising other recruitment examinations and achieving more savings in expenditure and manpower."

Application eligibility and details
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     At present, attaining a pass result in the BLNST is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs. All candidates for civil service jobs must pass the BLNST in order to be considered for appointment, regardless of whether the candidates have previously taken the Basic Law Test centrally conducted by the CSB or individual bureaux/departments in previous civil service recruitment exercises. 

     Prospective applicants of civil service posts at degree or professional levels without a pass result in the BLNST can apply for the Digitalised BLNST through the online application system (www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.html) starting from tomorrow at 9am for the examination to be held from May 23 to July 16 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). The Digitalised BLNST will be conducted at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office of the CSB (Address: 37th Floor, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong). For examination to be held on or after July 17, the examination quota will be open for application on a daily basis in accordance with an eight-week advance booking schedule. The General Grades Office will adjust the examination quota having regard to the demand.

     The examination format, duration and content of the Digitalised BLNST are identical to those of the paper-based BLNST. The only change is that the examination will be conducted by computer, and the results of the Digitalised BLNST will be issued by e-mail to candidates in the form of electronic result certificates on the same day of the examination.

     The pool of eligible candidates for civil service jobs requiring an undergraduate degree has been expanded to students in their third year of undergraduate studies (in a four-year curriculum). Therefore, the Digitalised BLNST will be open to holders of a degree, or holders of a professional qualification meeting the entry requirement of the posts, or undergraduate students who will have attained a degree in the current or next academic year. Applicants for the Digitalised BLNST should also be holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card and aged 18 or above (including those who will turn 18 in the year the applicant takes the examination).

     Applicants must submit the application through the designated website. Each applicant can only reserve one examination timeslot. Upon completion of application procedures, applicants will be provided with an application reference number immediately. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to the applicant's e-mail address immediately.

     A pass result in the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) has permanent validity and is acceptable for the purpose of applying for all civil service jobs. The CSB has been conducting the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) since June 11, 2022. Those who possess a pass result in the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) need not apply again. 

     For the BLNST applicable to civil service posts requiring non-degree or non-professional qualifications, the existing arrangements by recruiting departments/grades remain unchanged. For details of the BLNST, please visit the CSB webpage (www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/blnst/1372.html).

     General enquiries may be directed to the Civil Service Examinations Unit by phone at 2537 6429 or by e-mail to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk.

Ends/Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:00

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