LCQ21: Manpower of Traffic Wardens
8.5.2024

âFollowing is a question by the Hon Dennis Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (May 8): Question: Some trade unions have relayed that there has been a persistent shortage of Traffic Wardens (TWs) and the wastage rate of new recruits is high. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of (a) the staff establishment and (b) the strength of (i) Senior Traffic Wardens (STWs) and (ii) TWs in each year from 2019 to 2024 (set out in Table 1); Table 1 Rank Manpower Year (based on the figures as at December 31 each year) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 (as at March 31) (i) (a) (b) (ii) (a) (b) (2) of (i) the target number of recruits, (ii) the number of applicants and (iii) the number of people recruited in the TW recruitment exercises conducted in 2021 and 2023 (set out in Table 2); Table 2 Year of recruitment exercise (i) (ii) (iii) 2021 2023 (3) whether it has plans to launch a new round of TW recruitment exercise; if so, when it will be conducted, and of the target number of recruits of (i) STWs and (ii) TWs (set out in Table 3); Table 3 Rank Target number of recruits (i) (ii) (4) of the number of (i) STWs and (ii) TWs who left the service in each year from 2019 to 2024 (set out in Table 4), and the reasons for their departure; Table 4 Year (based on the figures as at December 31 each year) Number of departures (i) (ii) 2019 &hellip;&hellip; 2024 (as at March 31) (5) whether it has estimated the number of (i) STWs and (ii) TWs who will reach their retirement age in each year from 2024 to 2026 (set out in Table 5); and Table 5 Rank Year 2024 2025 2026 (i) (ii) (6) of (a) the lower quartile, (b) the median and (c) the upper quartile of the length of service of (i) STWs and (ii) TWs in each year from 2019 to 2024 (set out in Table 6)? Table 6 Year Length of service (a) (b) (c) (i) (ii) (i) (ii) (i) (ii) 2019 &hellip;&hellip; 2024 (as at March 31) Reply: President, Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) have been monitoring the manpower situation of Traffic Wardens (TWs) and recruiting TWs as and when necessary. Having consulted the HKPF in respect of the Hon Dennis Leung's questions on the establishment, recruitment and the turnover situation of TWs, my reply is as follows: (1) The establishment and strength of Senior Traffic Wardens (STWs) and TWs from 2019 to end of March 2024 Rank Manpower Year (based on the figures as at December 31 each year) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 (as at March 31) STWs Establishment 44 44 45 45 45 45 Strength 43 44 44 45 44 44 TWs Establishment 311 318 319 322 316 316 Strength 287 287 279 299 262 254 (2) TW recruitment exercises conducted in 2021 and 2023 Year of recruitment exercise Target number of recruits Number of applicants Number of TW recruited 2021 55 7 741 88* 2023 43 3 426 Internal vetting in progress; new hire onboarding process will commence as soon as possible afterwards *Note: Including the number of vacancy to be filled and waiting list. (3) The 2023 TW recruitment exercise will be completed soon. The HKPF has no plan for another TW recruitment exercise at this moment. If there are vacancies to be filled in the near future, HKPF will recruit suitable candidates from the waiting list of previous recruitment exercise. Besides, STW is a promotional rank for TW and vacancies will be filled by promotion. (4) Number of STWs and TWs who left the service from 2019 to end of March 2024 Year (based on the figures as at December 31 each year) Number of departures STWs TWs 2019 1 (retired) 5 (retired) + 9 (change of job#) 2020 3 (retired) 9 (retired) + 12 (change of job#) 2021 4 (retired) 10 (retired) + 10 (change of job#) 2022 2 (retired) 11 (retired) + 10 (change of job#) 2023 5 (retired) 12 (retired) + 18 (change of job#) 2024 (as at March 31) 0 6 (change of job #) #Note: Including those who were transferred to other government departments or resigned. (5) Number of STWs and TWs who will reach their retirement age in each year from 2024 to 2026 Rank Year 2024 2025 2026 STWs 5 3 2 TWs 6 7 6 (6) Length of service of STWs and TWs in each year from 2019 to 2024 Year (based on the figures as at December 31 each year) Length of service Lower quartile Median Upper quartile STWs TWs STWs TWs STWs TWs 2019 24 1 25 4 28 24 2020 24 1 26 4 29 24 2021 25 2 27 4 29 25 2022 26 2 27 5 29 13 2023 25 3 28 5 29 12 2024 (as at March 31) 25 3 28 5.5 30 12.5