Outsourcing the management work of new facilities is a prevailing Government policy and the implementation of it at the soon-to-be-completed Tai Kok Tsui Sports Centre will not affect existing staff, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department says.

In response to a petition by lifeguards against outsourcing, the department said due to the freeze in the civil service establishment, the department is unable to create new posts for newly-completed facilities.

To continue to provide quality services and facilities to the public, the department has to outsource the management work of new facilities to contractors.

The department has pledged such arrangements will not affect existing staff, including no redundancy of permanent establishment and the unchanged employment of whole-year contract staff.

Open policy

To address their concerns, letters have been sent to department staff of all ranks and grades, detailing the outsourcing arrangements of the centre and its swimming pool.

Also, the department is willing to hold discussions at any time with the union addressing their concerns.

So far, the management work of 10 sports centres of the department has been contracted out.