Glasses get all clear to ease way for aspiring firemen

Fire-station-officer candidates will be allowed to wear glasses to take the eye test from later this year, fire service chief Andy Yeung Yan-kin says, in an attempt to recruit more firefighters.

Speaking after an event yesterday, Yeung said the policy formulation has entered its final stage and more details will be announced soon.

Asked if rescue work would be hampered if firemen wore glasses, Yeung said the concern had been taken into consideration when formulating the policy.

He also said spectacles had been a part of the breathing apparatus that firemen wear, so the relaxed requirement would not hinder rescue work.

Last month, the Fire Services Department lowered its difficulty level in the physical test, which used to be the first part of the recruitment process of firefighters.

But Yeung said 40 percent of candidates could not pass the physical test so it would be conducted in the last stage of the recruitment process.

Four physical test experience days will be organized for applicants to prepare for the test. They can attempt the physical test on these experience days and - if successful in completing the test on that day - will be considered to have passed it.

Yeung said he understood that people may be worried about the hazardous job nature of firefighters but he believed new technology could reduce the risk.

Last month Yeung said the number of station officers was not enough, so the department was lowering the admission requirements to recruit more staff.

Yeung also said that the department received enthusiastic responses from mainland citizens during the recruitment exercise at universities in the Greater Bay Area.

He said he hoped to hire all suitable candidates and would consider recruiting talents from places other than the GBA.

In May, the Hong Kong Police Force relaxed its entry requirements, also owing to the shortage of manpower.

The force has canceled the specific height and weight requirements of applicants, who could also wear glasses or contact lenses to complete the eyesight test.

For the language test, it now allows applicants to take Chinese and English tests for officers, which is a paper consisting of 50 to 60 multiple-choice questions.

Previously, male applicants had to be at least 1.63 meters tall and weigh at least 50 kilograms, while females could not be shorter than 1.52m and weigh less than 42kg.

They also had to pass the eyesight test, as well as attain at least Level 2 in five subjects, including Chinese and English language, in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Exam or equivalent academic qualification.