A voluntary exit scheme will be introduced for civil servants affected by the Housing Authority (HA)'s plan to divest its retail and car-parking facilities.

The scheme will cover some 650 civil service posts in the Housing Department which are currently managing or maintaining these facilities. Benefits and eligibility rules under the scheme are the same as those offered under the Second Voluntary Retirement Scheme for selected civil service grades in 2003.

The benefit package includes a lump-sum ex-gratia payment calculated on the basis of one month's salary for every two complete years of service, plus pension payable immediately upon retirement.

A spokesman for the Housing Department said today (Wednesday) that staff were being consulted on the details of the exit scheme.  Taking account of staff feedback, final approval of the exit scheme will be sought from Government and the HA around June this year.

"Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary and there will be no forced redundancy of civil servants arising from the divestment," said the spokesman, adding that staff choosing to stay will be redeployed to other duties.

The plan to divest HA's retail properties of one million square metres and about 100 000 car-parking spaces was approved by the HA in July last year to enable the HA to focus on its primary mission to provide subsidized rental housing to people in need.


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