Recruitment arrangement for Government Counsel applicants announced

     The Department of Justice today (August 3) reminded potential applicants for the post of Government Counsel (GC) that they are required to obtain a certain level of results in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) in order to be qualified for the post.

     The GC recruitment exercise will be conducted in around late August/early September this year.  Similar to last year's recruitment exercise, applicants will be required to obtain a Level 2 result in the Use of English (UE) paper and a Level 1 result in the Use of Chinese (UC) paper of the CRE.

     In this connection, Level 5 or above in English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) or Grade C or above in Use of English in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) or Grade C or above in English Language in the General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) are accepted as equivalent to Level 2 in the UE paper of the CRE.  Furthermore, Level 4 in Chinese Language in the HKDSEE or Grade D in Chinese Language and Culture or Chinese Language and Literature in the HKALE are accepted as equivalent to Level 1 in the UC paper of the CRE.  Other equivalent qualifications can also be found at www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/cre/949.html.

     Under exceptional circumstances a limited number of applicants who do not meet the requisite Chinese language requirement may be appointed subject to the operational needs of the department.

     Since 2008, applicants for the GC post should also take a Basic Law Test (BLT).  While not mandatory, the results of the BLT will be taken into account in considering the suitability of a candidate for appointment.

     The next CRE and BLT will be held on October 6 and 13, in Hong Kong.  Prospective GC applicants without the requisite results in the CRE or equivalent and/or those who wish to take the BLT are invited to apply between August 3 and 16, for sitting the relevant examination and/or test.

     Further information on the CRE and BLT is available on the homepage of the Civil Service Bureau (under the "Recruitment" section) at www.csb.gov.hk.