Coronavirus: Hong Kong civil servants set to return to offices from next Monday as work-from-home arrangements come to an end

Staff worked from home since late January but department heads have been told to prepare for resumption of normal public services from March 2

Public health experts say the move will inevitably increase the risk of infection with the number of new cases still on the rise

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Workers will start returning to government offices from next week. Photo: Roy Issa

Published: 6:30am, 26 Feb 2020Updated: 5:11pm, 26 Feb 2020

Hong Kong’s civil servants will return to government offices from next Monday, after spending a month working from home in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the Post has learned.

Public health experts said the move would inevitably increase the risk of infection with the number of cases still on the rise and urged the government to allow flexible work arrangements for employees.

According to a government memo from the Civil Service Bureau, department heads have been told to prepare for the resumption of normal public services from March 2, although access to government buildings will be tightened amid the risk posed by the new coronavirus, which can cause the Covid-19 disease.

“The special work arrangement has been operating since January 29. HoDs [heads of departments] have been monitoring closely their operations, including their provision of public services, and making adjustments having regard to their individual circumstances,” the memo said.

“It has been decided that from Monday, March 2, all public services of the government should resume normal in an orderly manner with special measures to be taken where appropriate in line with the government’s social distancing objective.”