A new round of the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) will open for application from tomorrow (July 25). Prospective applicants for civil service posts at the degree or professional level should apply through the online application system on the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) webpage.

     ​The application details for the CRE will be uploaded to the CSB webpage (www.csb.gov.hk/eng/cre.html) tomorrow. The application deadline is 11.59pm on August 7.

     A spokesman for the CSB reminded persons planning to apply for civil service posts at the degree or professional level that they should first obtain valid CRE results. Those who plan to apply for these jobs in the near future should make use of the opportunity to take part in this round of examination, tentatively scheduled for October 3. 
 
     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, holders of a degree or a professional qualification meeting the entry requirement of the posts, as well as undergraduate students graduating in the academic year of 2026/27 or 2027/28 may apply.

     The CRE consists of three papers, namely the Use of Chinese (UC), the Use of English (UE) and the Aptitude Test (AT). Applicants may choose to take any of the CRE papers in the coming examination. Results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or other specified public examinations are accepted as equivalents to the two levels of results for the UC and the UE. If applicants have attained the specified results in the language subjects concerned in the HKDSEE or other specified public examinations, they will not be arranged to take the UC and/or UE paper(s). Please visit the CSB webpage for the specified results of the language subjects concerned (www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/cre/949.html). Applicants should note that different civil service posts have different Chinese and English language proficiency requirements. An applicant who possesses a result in the HKDSEE or other specified public examinations that is accepted as equivalent of Level 1 result in the UC or UE of the CRE and wishes to apply for a job that requires a higher Level 2 result in the UC or UE will have to obtain a Level 2 result from the relevant language test in the CRE to become eligible for consideration for appointment. No public examination results are accepted as being equivalent to the AT. For some civil service posts at the degree or professional level, a pass result in the AT paper is one of the eligibility criteria an applicant must meet for applying for the posts concerned.

     ​Attaining a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs. Prospective candidates for civil service posts of degree or professional grades should attend the Digitalised BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) organised by CSB at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office, as soon as possible. For details, please visit the webpage (www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.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/Friday, July 24, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00

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