The Fire Services Department said it’s considering relaxing its entry requirement for firefighter positions so that people wearing glasses can apply.
The department had said earlier that it was suffering from an acute shortage in manpower, and that it needed to make changes to make it easier for candidates to qualify.
The Director of Fire Services, Andy Yeung, stressed the lowering of eyesight standards won’t hinder rescue operations, noting that the new recruitment policy will likely be implemented in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
Yeung added that his department has been recruiting staff in the Greater Bay Area, and the response had been overwhelming.
He said fire officials may even consider hiring people from outside the Greater Bay Area going forward.