LCQ3: Manpower of the disciplined services at boundary control points

     Following is a question by the Hon Lai Tung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (November 13):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that the Three-Runway System (3RS) at the Hong Kong International Airport will be officially commissioned by the end of this year, necessitating the deployment of additional manpower from the relevant government departments to conduct immigration and customs clearance for travellers using the expanded Terminal 2. Regarding the manpower of the disciplined services at boundary control points (BCPs), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the relevant manpower arrangements for various disciplined services (including but not limited to the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Fire Services Department) and the Department of Health, including the respective numbers of posts to be created and internally redeployed, in order to tie in with the commissioning of the 3RS; and
 
(2) of the current numbers of vacancies in various disciplined services; whether the authorities have, in the light of the relevant vacancy situation, assessed and analysed if the manpower of various disciplined services will be sufficient to meet the existing performance pledges at various BCPs after the commissioning of the 3RS?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau, our consolidated reply is as follows:
 
(1) The Three-Runway System (3RS) is targeted to be commissioned on November 28, 2024. The relevant passenger facilities in support of the 3RS will be opened in phases based on passenger traffic demand. As the manpower required at different time intervals varies, the relevant departments, through flexible manpower deployment and optimal use of resources, will ensure that there is sufficient staff to cope with service needs and determine the respective numbers of posts to be created and internally redeployed. They will review their manpower needs after confirming the operation scale of Airport Terminal 2.
 
(2) The Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department have been closely monitoring the inbound and outbound passenger traffic at control points. They will, having regard to the actual situation, deploy manpower flexibly, including engaging retired civil servants and deploying staff from other divisions under their departments to provide support for control points, and adopt other corresponding measures such as streamlining workflow and harnessing information technology, in order to ensure the smooth operation of control points. The departments responsible for control point operation will keep reviewing their service performance and formulate appropriate policies and contingency plans with a view to meeting the existing performance pledges of control points.
 
     A breakdown of the number of vacancies in various disciplined services by department is set out below:
 

Note: Number of vacancies=Actual establishment-Staff in service (including staff members on final leave)