Civil servants will be consulted on large-scale outsourcing programmes, Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong says, adding no staff will be made redundant.

Mr Wong told legislators today that affected staff will be redeployed or managed through natural wastage.

Last August there were 4,512 outsourced contracts valued at over $214 billion. About 62% were for capital works and construction, 19% for environmental hygiene and 10% for building and property management. By number, about 25% of the total related to building and property management, 17% to capital works and 12% to plant and equipment maintenance.

In 2005-06, it is expected 75 Government services will be outsourced. About 17% are related to capital works and construction, 16% technical services, 12% each for information technology and building management, and 10% for training and education.

The projects include the management and operation of Hong Kong Wetland Park, studies on port cargo forecasts and the auto-fuel retail market, learning and teaching strategies for a new senior secondary curriculum, waste tyres recycling services, maintenance of Police third generation integrated communications system, and taxpayer portal feasibility study.

There is a considerable amount of unrealised potential with outsourcing, and departmental outsourcing experiences will be reviewed to ensure better value for money and improved service delivery.