************************************************
The Government will introduce Phase One of the five-day week scheme from tomorrow (July 1), which means participating Government offices will extend their working hours on weekdays from Monday (July 3), but will no longer provide services on Saturdays.
A Government spokesman said that in many departments, only some offices were switching to a five-day week. "So it would be prudent for residents to check with the 24-hour Citizen's Easy Link 1823 or to look up the dedicated website at www.info.gov.hk/info/5day before they visit a Government office on a Saturday," he said.
"In early May, the Government began a publicity drive to enhance awareness of the new work hours in the civil service. Bureaux and departments have put in place or further enhanced alternative means of service delivery or transactions. These include electronic and internet services, telephone bookings and drop-in boxes. Emergency and essential services would not be affected," he added.
The website, hyperlinked to dedicated webpages of individual bureaux and departments, provides detailed information on opening hours and services affected. Meanwhile, the 1823 Government enquiries hotline has been beefed up to provide a one-stop, ready source of information on the implementation of the five-day week.
The following publicity measures have also been taken:
* posters have been put up throughout the territory to publicise the website and hotline;
* a pamphlet has been produced to explain the rationale behind the scheme;
* flyers from individual departments have been distributed to explain changes in services and new opening hours;
* clients of certain departments have been notified via direct mails or notices put up at the office premises;
* press conferences, media interviews have been held; and senior officials have appeared on public affairs programmes and radio talk shows;
* announcements have been broadcast on TV and radio;
* press releases and columns have appeared in local daily newspapers;
* messages have been displayed on public transport systems, including MTR, KCR, Light Rail, and public buses; and
* video and text messages have been screened on the Housing Channel installed at public housing estates.
"We appreciate that the public might take some time to adjust to the new work pattern," he said.
Ends/Friday, June 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:29
NNNN