People applying for civil service jobs will from Tuesday have to put aside their pens and grab a keyboard or touchscreen instead, as paper applications will no longer be accepted except in specified cases.

Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung said in a social media post that the change is part of the government’s digitisation drive and will enhance efficiency in the recruitment process.

She said details on how to apply for specific jobs will be provided in recruitment advertisements, and applicants should submit their applications accordingly.

Yeung said her bureau has been adopting various measures to improve efficiency.

This includes replacing the paper-based Basic Law and National Security Law Test with an online version, with results and certificates issued on the same day as the examination as opposed to the previous month-long wait, she noted.

“These are just some examples of how the government embraces and utilises technology,” Yeung wrote.

“One thing in common is the better use of existing resources and manpower to improve recruitment efficiency so it's more convenient for jobseekers.”