Two language exams will be held each year to create a pool of qualified university graduates for government recruits, according to the Civil Service Bureau. Those who pass the exam can apply for a job within three years. Secretary for Civil Service Joseph Wong Wing-ping said the result might also help private sector recruitment. 'Some might say that the test actually also benefits the private sector in looking for qualified candidates,' he said. The Government currently holds a language examination whenever there is a major recruitment drive for jobs requiring university degrees, such as administrative officers. But the test and interview process usually takes a year to complete. Mr Wong said the language test would be extended to all graduate-level government jobs to enhance Chinese and English proficiency. Examinations will be held in June and November this year to create a pool of qualified potential recruits. 'This will ensure we will have talents whenever we have recruitment. It will shorten the process by three months,' Mr Wong said. Meanwhile, 148 candidates have been shortlisted from 2,679 applicants from 19 countries for interview this week to vie for 10 $80,000-a-month senior administrative officer jobs. Forty will be picked to test their ability in a mock government office, a move unprecedented in civil service recruitment. Mr Wong said another round of recruitment would be launched later this year. On the suggestion of merging bureaus with departments of the same portfolio, Mr Wong said the political appointees under the Chief Executive's accountability system would later review if restructuring would be necessary. Describing out-sourcing of services as inevitable, Mr Wong said more services would be contracted out to limit the size of government.
