Applicants for the second Voluntary Retirement Scheme will be informed of the results of their applications on July 24.

The scheme was launched in March to enable civil servants in specified ranks and streams of 229 designated grades with an anticipated staff surplus to apply for early retirement.

A total of 5,961 applications were received before the deadline on May 20, of which 5,825 were from eligible applicants. About 200 applicants have since withdrawn their applications.

Heads of Departments/Grades have now completed processing all valid applications and applicants will be informed of the outcome on July 24.

About 5,500 of the applications will be approved. Most of the voluntary retirement  takers will be released within one year.

In approving the applications and deciding on the timing of the successful applicants' departure, Heads of Departments/Grades will ensure that the provision and quality of service to the public as well as the operation of the departments will not be adversely affected.