Role of the Quick Response Unit

With the “government-wide mobilisation” level, an auxiliary quick response unit (QRU) formed by government employees can be mobilised promptly during major incidents requiring considerable manpower support to provide immense manpower reinforcement for the core response team formed by dedicated departments.

Civil servants and non-civil service staff have the responsibility to undertake any other duties which they are called upon to perform, including providing support as instructed when the “government-wide mobilisation” level is initiated.  When the Initiating Bureau is formulating the operational plans and implementation details of the mobilisation, designated personnel will be given notice to get prepared before deployment.  As soon as the operational details have been finalised, mobilised staff will be notified to attend operation briefing or to join the operation at designated assembly locations.  The supporting work to be assigned to members of QRU will require no special skills.  Civilian staff will be able to discharge such duties. 

QRU members will mainly assist in performing managerial, supervisory, general support and logistical duties, depending on their salary points on the pay scale.  In general, civil servants of senior level will be responsible for managerial and supervisory duties, whereas those of middle and junior levels will take up frontline support and logistical duties.

Where mobilised staff have worked overtime, they would be recompensed in accordance with established rules and procedures.  Mobilised staff would also be provided with subsistence allowance (if applicable), and reimbursed travelling expenses according to the relevant Civil Service Regulations.

To facilitate easy identification of QRU members, all of them will put on designated vests while on QRU duties.