All systems go: Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service So Kam-shing briefs the press on the five-day week implementation.

The Government is confident that all bureaux and departments are ready to implement the five-day week initiative in phases from July 1, Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service So Kam-shing says.

Mr So said in deciding which services should move to a five-day week, Government bodies have carefully reviewed the services they provide and consulted their clients through customer liaison groups and advisory bodies.

Emergency and essential services will not be affected, and the overall level and efficiency of Government services will be maintained.

"Adequate complementary measures are in place to ensure the smooth migration to the five-day week. The service hours lost on Saturdays will be fully compensated by extension of working hours on weekdays," he said.

Alternate means

In an effort to minimise the impact of the non-provision of services on Saturdays, bureaux and departments have put in place or further enhanced alternate means of service delivery, such as internet services, telephone bookings and drop-in boxes.

They have also actively compressed performance pledges to ensure services covered in phase one of the implementation plan will continue to be delivered within the same period from July 1 onwards.

Explaining the implementation details, Deputy Commissioner of Inland Revenue Tam Kuen-chong said a visit to the department in person is no longer necessary as a wide range of e-services are available.

"With an e-certificate or an e-Tax Password, taxpayers can now use a touch-tone phone or the Internet any time and anywhere, to submit tax returns, make enquiries on personal tax matters or request duplicate tax returns or demand notes."

Labour services

Deputy Commissioner for Labour Jennie Chor said the Labour Department will continue to maintain emergency services on Saturdays.

Essential counter services like job centres, occupational health clinics and occupational medicine units for sick leave clearance, will remain open on Saturdays while the majority of the department's offices will switch to a five-day week from July 1.

Deputy Director of Leisure & Cultural Services Patrick Chan said the opening hours of public libraries, performing arts venues, museums, sports centres and other leisure venues will remain unchanged. Customers can also use the Leisure Link service on the Internet and the Leisure Link Telephone Booking Service.

Low utilisation

Assistant Director-General of Trade & Industry Belinda Kwan said the utilisation rate of the Trade & Industry Department's services on Saturdays has always been low.

"Many applications for licences, certificates or registration can be done through other means. For example, applications for Certificates of Origin can be submitted by electronic means 24 hours a day, as can Production Notifications," she said.

The Transport Department said it will extend counter service hours of licensing offices, driving test appointment offices and vehicle examination booking services by 30 minutes to one hour Monday to Friday from July 1, to compensate for the non-provision of services on Saturdays.

More test slots will be provided during weekdays to compensate for the non-operation hours of the Driving Test Written Test Centre and Kowloon Bay and Sheung Kwai Chung Vehicle Examination Centres on Saturdays.

No significant impact

Concluding today's briefing, Mr So said: "Our assessment is that non-provision of the selected government services on Saturdays would have no significant impact on the general public.

"But we understand the public might need time to adjust to the new work pattern. Departments will closely monitor the public's reaction to service delivery and feedback from clients following the implementation of the five-day week. We will review the operation in August and, where necessary, consider fine-tuning the arrangements."