Hong Kong’s disciplined services have nearly 9,000 job vacancies, including more than 6,600 in the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Wednesday.

Answering a query at the Legislative Council, Tang said there were 8,797 vacancies for disciplined and civilian staff positions in the disciplined services as of Nov 1, 2024.

These included 6,612 vacancies in the police, 763 in the Correctional Services Department, 628 in the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department, 406 in the Immigration Department, 333 in the Fire Services Department, and 55 in the Flying Government Service.

With the Hong Kong International Airport’s three-runway system starting operations on Nov 28, Tang said the immigration and customs departments will deploy manpower flexibly, including engaging retired civil servants and deploying staff from other divisions to provide support for control points.

He noted that passenger facilities in support of the three-runway system will be opened in phases based on passenger traffic demand.

“As the manpower required at different time intervals varies, the relevant departments, through flexible manpower deployment and optimal use of resources, will ensure that there is sufficient staff to cope with service needs and determine the respective numbers of posts to be created and internally redeployed,” Tang said.

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The HKPF said in September that it had received nearly 12,000 job applications in the past financial year, or an increase of 46 percent. Nearly 1,000 of the applicants were later appointed as officers. As of June 30, 2024, the force numbered 27,093, including 3,961 civilian staff members.