Job Corner for Non-Ethnic Chinese
28-11-2023
Non-ethnic Chinese have equal access to government job opportunities
Appointment to the civil service is based on the principle of open and fair competition. All candidates are assessed on the basis of their ability, performance and character, and having regard to the stipulated entry requirements set according to the job requirements of the grade concerned.
Non-ethnic Chinese applicants, like all others, have equal access to government job opportunities. Heads of Department / Grade, having regard to the job requirements of the grades under their respective purview, specify appropriate Chinese and English language proficiency requirements (LPRs) as part of the entry requirements for the grades concerned. This arrangement is in line with the guidance of the Equal Opportunities Commission issued in accordance with the Race Discrimination Ordinance.
- Language Proficiency Requirements for Civil Service Jobs
- Latest Civil Service Vacancies with Lowered / Relatively Lower Language Proficiency Requirements
- Stories of Non-ethnic Chinese Civil Servants
- Useful Links
Language Proficiency Requirements for Civil Service Jobs
It is the established policy to maintain a biliterate (Chinese and English) and trilingual (Cantonese, Putonghua and English) Civil Service in order to meet the long-term operational and development needs. The language proficiency requirements of civil service grades are normally laid down as part of the entry requirements for recruitment –
- for degree / professional grades, the language proficiency requirements are normally set at either Level 2 or Level 1 in the two language papers (viz. Use of Chinese (UC) and Use of English (UE)) in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE), or equivalent [Note 1];
- for non-degree grades with academic qualification requirements at the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) level or above, the language proficiency requirements are normally at least Level 2 in Chinese Language and English Language subjects in the HKCEE, or equivalent [Note 2];
- for non-degree grades with academic qualification requirements lower than the HKCEE level, the language proficiency requirements are normally aligned with the minimum academic qualification prescribed for the concerned grades; and
- for non-degree grades that do not have any prescribed academic qualification, the language proficiency requirements are also set at a level commensurate with the job requirements of the concerned grades.
Language proficiency requirements of particular grades will be shown at the relevant recruitment advertisements. Applicants are normally required to meet the language proficiency requirements before job applications. Enquiries on the language proficiency requirements and recruitment plan of particular grades can be directed to the recruiting grades / departments.
[Note 1]
Language Proficiency Requirements | Some examples of examination results which equivalent to certain level in the UE or UC paper of the CRE |
| Level 2 in the UE paper of the CRE |
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| Level 2 in the UC paper of the CRE |
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| Level 1 in the UE paper of the CRE |
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| Level 1 in the UC paper of the CRE |
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[Note 2]
For civil service appointment purpose, Grade C and Grade E in Chinese Language and English Language (Syllabus B) in HKCEE before 2007 are accepted administratively as comparable to Level 3 and Level 2 respectively in Chinese Language and English Language in the 2007 HKCEE and henceforth. Grade C and Grade D in Chinese Language and English Language in International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) / General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) / General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level)(GCE O Level) are accepted as comparable to Level 3 and Level 2 in Chinese Language and English Language respectively in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) / HKCEE for civil service appointments. "Attained" and "Attained with Distinction" results in the Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) subject is accepted respectively as meeting the Chinese language proficiency requirements of Level 2 and Level 3 in Chinese Language in HKDSEE.
Latest Civil Service Vacancies with Lowered / Relatively Lower Language Proficiency Requirements
Please note that the following list of job vacancies only serves as a summary for easy reference. For full details and the latest position of the listed job vacancies, please visit the online Government Vacancies Enquiry system on the Civil Service Bureau website at https://www.csb.gov.hk and follow the application procedures as specified in the recruitment advertisements to apply for the jobs. You may also view the details of the listed job vacancies through the "Government Vacancies" Mobile Application (App), which can be downloaded from Google Play, Apple App Store and HUAWEI AppGallery for free.
Department of Health
Academic Requirement
Professional qualification
Chinese Language Proficiency Requirement
'Level 1' result in the Use of Chinese paper in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) and able to speak fluent Cantonese. (Note: Applicants without the requisite CRE results, or equivalent, but have met the other entry requirements may also apply. Candidates who do not have Level 1 in the Use of Chinese paper of the CRE by the time of appointment may also be appointed. However, only a limited number of applicants who do not possess the requisite Chinese language proficiency but are able to speak fluent Cantonese may be appointed subject to the operational needs of the Department.)
Department of Health
Academic Requirement
Professional qualification
Chinese Language Proficiency Requirement
'Level 1' result in the Use of Chinese paper in the Common Recruitment Examination and able to speak fluent Cantonese. (Note: Applicants without the requisite CRE results, or equivalent, but have met the other entry requirements may also apply. Candidates who do not have Level 1 in the Use of Chinese paper of the CRE by the time of appointment may also be appointed. However, only a limited number of applicants who do not possess the requisite Chinese language proficiency but are able to speak fluent Cantonese may be appointed subject to the operational needs of the Department.)
Hong Kong Police Force
Academic Requirement
HKDSEE results; or HKCEE results (Note: Final year undergraduate students graduating in the academic year of 2024 and penultimate year undergraduate students graduating in the academic year of 2025 may also apply.)
Chinese Language Proficiency Requirement
Level 2 or above in Chinese Language in HKDSEE or HKCEE, or have a pass result in the Chinese language test for Police Constable recruitment exercise; and able to read and write Chinese and speak fluent Cantonese.
Hong Kong Police Force
Academic Requirement
(a)(i) Degree; or (a)(ii) Degree, or Higher Deploma, or Associate Degree, or Diploma; or (a)(iii) HKALE results plus HKCEE results, or HKDSEE results (Note: Final year undergraduate students graduating in the academic year of 2024 and penultimate year undergraduate students graduating in the academic year of 2025 may also apply.)
Chinese Language Proficiency Requirement
(a)(i) "Level 1" result in the Use of Chinese paper in CRE; or (a)(ii)&(iii) Level 2 or above in Chinese Language in HKDSEE or the HKCEE, or have a pass result in the Chinese language test for Police Inspector recruitment exercise; and (b) able to read and write Chinese and speak fluent Cantonese.
Various Government Bureaux and Departments
[Note]
- For civil service appointment purpose, Grade C and Grade E in Chinese Language in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) before 2007 are accepted administratively as comparable to Level 3 and Level 2 respectively in Chinese Language in the 2007 HKCEE and henceforth.
- Grade C and Grade D in Chinese Language in International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) / General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) / General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level)(GCE O Level) are accepted as comparable to Level 3 and Level 2 in Chinese Language respectively in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE) / HKCEE for civil service appointments.
- "Attained" and "Attained with Distinction" results in the Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) subject is accepted respectively as meeting the Chinese language proficiency requirements of Level 2 and Level 3 in Chinese Language in HKDSEE.
Stories of Non-ethnic Chinese Civil Servants
Videos about government job opportunities for Non-Ethnic Chinese:
Useful Links
- Government Vacancies Enquiry System - which provides full details and the latest position of government job vacancies.
- Race Relations Unit of Home Affairs Department - which provides a range of support services to ethnic minorities.
- Employment Services for Ethnic Minorities of Labour Department - which provides a range of employment-related support services to ethnic minorities job seekers.