CSB Launches Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test for Civil Service Applicants Starting Tomorrow.

Civil Service Bureau launches Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test to provide convenience to candidates

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) will launch the Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree/Professional Grades) (Digitalised BLNST), which prospective applicants can apply for through the online application system on the CSB website starting from tomorrow (May 21) at 9am for the examination to be held from May 23 onwards.

The examination will be conducted by computer at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office of the CSB. There are six examination timeslots per working day, and it is estimated that around 60 000 examination quotas will be provided each year.

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Further to the digitalisation of application for designated civil service posts, the digitalisation of the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) is another example of applying technologies to enhance efficiency. The Digitalised BLNST was designed from the users' perspective, enabling candidates to submit online applications for examination anytime and sit for the examination at their own selected timeslots as early as possible. Candidates will no longer be confined to the fixed thrice-per-year examination schedule and the paper-based examination. They can also obtain the result through e-mail on the day of examination, which is more convenient and efficient as compared with the previous arrangement of issuing the examination result by post. The arrangement not only saves time on paperwork but also is more environmentally friendly. This is a win-win situation for both the candidates and the recruiting departments."

She said, "The Bureau will flexibly deploy existing resources and manpower, as well as better arrangements and use of venue to implement the digitalised examination. This arrangement can also reduce the expenditure for hiring part-time invigilators and related administrative expenses for setting up temporary examination centres. In the long run, we will review the operational arrangement with a view to actively exploring the feasibility of digitalising other recruitment examinations and achieving more savings in expenditure and manpower."

Application eligibility and details

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At present, attaining a pass result in the BLNST is an entry requirement for all civil service jobs. All candidates for civil service jobs must pass the BLNST in order to be considered for appointment, regardless of whether the candidates have previously taken the Basic Law Test centrally conducted by the CSB or individual bureaux/departments in previous civil service recruitment exercises.

Prospective applicants of civil service posts at degree or professional levels without a pass result in the BLNST can apply for the Digitalised BLNST through the online application system (www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.html) starting from tomorrow at 9am for the examination to be held from May 23 to July 16 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). The Digitalised BLNST will be conducted at the Recruitment Centre, General Grades Office of the CSB (Address: 37th Floor, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong). For examination to be held on or after July 17, the examination quota will be open for application on a daily basis in accordance with an eight-week advance booking schedule. The General Grades Office will adjust the examination quota having regard to the demand.

The examination format, duration and content of the Digitalised BLNST are identical to those of the paper-based BLNST. The only change is that the examination will be conducted by computer, and the results of the Digitalised BLNST will be issued by e-mail to candidates in the form of electronic result certificates on the same day of the examination.

The pool of eligible candidates for civil service jobs requiring an undergraduate degree has been expanded to students in their third year of undergraduate studies (in a four-year curriculum). Therefore, the Digitalised BLNST will be open to holders of a degree, or holders of a professional qualification meeting the entry requirement of the posts, or undergraduate students who will have attained a degree in the current or next academic year. Applicants for the Digitalised BLNST should also be holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card and aged 18 or above (including those who will turn 18 in the year the applicant takes the examination).

Applicants must submit the application through the designated website. Each applicant can only reserve one examination timeslot. Upon completion of application procedures, applicants will be provided with an application reference number immediately. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to the applicant's e-mail address immediately.

A pass result in the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) has permanent validity and is acceptable for the purpose of applying for all civil service jobs. The CSB has been conducting the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) since June 11, 2022. Those who possess a pass result in the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) need not apply again.

For the BLNST applicable to civil service posts requiring non-degree or non-professional qualifications, the existing arrangements by recruiting departments/grades remain unchanged. For details of the BLNST, please visit the CSB webpage (www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/blnst/1372.html).

General enquiries may be directed to the Civil Service Examinations Unit by phone at 2537 6429 or by e-mail to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk.

Civil Service Bureau launches Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test to provide convenience to candidates Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Civil Service Bureau launches Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test to provide convenience to candidates Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Civil Service Bureau launches Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test to provide convenience to candidates Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Civil Service Bureau launches Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test to provide convenience to candidates Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.

The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.

Product details are as follows:

Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)

Batch number: 51670742F2

Best-before date: June 16, 2027

Place of Origin: Germany

"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.

Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:

Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)

Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com

WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)

Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink

Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:

Kowloon Services Counter

Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)

Contact number: 3996 8196

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)

Hong Kong Services Counter

Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)

Contact number: 3996 8197

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)

The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.

Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.

Source: AI-found images