Candidates for correctional officers and assistant officers will take a simplified physical fitness test for recruitment starting from September 16, the Correctional Services Department announced, in order to attract more applicants.

The new test will have four items instead of the previous five, including replacing the sit-up and vertical jump tests with an isometric strength test.

The shuttle run test will also be changed from 10 single laps of 9 meters to 4 single laps of 10m. The bailey bridge and 800m run will be retained.

"Given that the test items and standards of the current physical fitness test have been in use for nearly 20 years, the CSD has invited a sports medicine expert to review and formulate new physical fitness test standards that better meet the daily work needs of correctional officers nowadays," a CSD spokesman said.

The CSD has also expedited its recruitment selection process by completing the physical fitness test, the Basic Law and National Security Law Test, the group interview and the selection interview in one day instead of the previous two.

Other disciplined services have also adjusted their entry requirements, in an attempt to recruit more candidates.

Last month, director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin said fire station-officer candidates will be allowed to wear glasses to take the eyesight test from later this year.

The Hong Kong Police Force relaxed its entry requirements in May, including cancelling the specific height and weight requirements of applicants and allowing candidates to wear glasses or contact lenses to complete the eyesight test.

Meanwhile, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan tried to recruit talents from students participating in the government's internship program, calling on them to apply for civil service positions.

Yeung interacted with more than 50 university students who joined the administrative service summer internship program - which started in mid May and will end in September - at an intern gathering yesterday.

The interns shared their experiences and achievements during their internship period and Yeung encouraged them to equip themselves to serve the community.

Yeung told them that the government needed talents who could help promote the development of Hong Kong.

"We are in great need of talent who love our country and Hong Kong, who dare to be innovative, who are willing to rise to challenges and who are dedicated to serving the public, in order to support the government in its endeavor to promote the development of Hong Kong at full speed.

"I encourage all students to proactively consider joining the civil service, especially as administrative officers, and to make good use of your knowledge, talent and enthusiasm to contribute to society," Yeung said.

The Civil Service Bureau organizes the administrative service internship program every winter and summer for students studying in local, mainland and overseas universities.

The program normally lasts for 2 months, with participants working full time. Interns are assigned to different bureaus and departments, carrying out duties that are similar to the work done by administrative officers.

Prison service lowers recruitment fitness standards