The Legal Aid Department will implement phase two of the five-day week scheme starting January 1. The operating hours of the Civil Litigation Section (2), Crime Section, Receipt & Despatch Unit as well as shroff offices will be extended on weekdays.

The department said the new work arrangements will not affect its services. 

For Civil Litigation Section (2), which handles family litigation and insolvency matters, appointments with staff can be pre-arranged to take place during the week.

For the Crime Section, defendants are given ample notice to appear in court and they would have sufficient time to apply for legal aid on days other than Saturdays. In the past there have been Saturday applications for criminal legal aid for hearings on the following working day.

Under the new work arrangements, the opening hours of Civil Litigation Section (2), Crime Section and Receipt and Despatch Unit will be extended from 5.15pm to 5.45pm from Mondays to Thursdays and to 6pm on Fridays.

Shroff offices' opening hours will be extended from 4pm to 4.30pm from Mondays to Fridays.

Drop-in boxes will also be placed in the offices of the Application & Processing Division at both the Headquarters and Kowloon Branch Office, which will continue to operate on Saturdays, to collect cheque payments on Saturdays.

The Application & Processing Division will also assist in the receipt of documents on Saturdays.