Hong Kong's Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yu said on Monday that paternity leave for civil servants could be implemented next year following a two-month consultation.

A consultation paper is being prepared and should be completed within two months, Yu told lawmakers in a Legislative Council panel. She said she would consult departmental management, civil servants, unions and lawmakers before making a final decision.

She expected the plan could be implemented in the second half of next year. It would take into account the effective operation of the government, eligibility criteria and the mode of leave-taking.

Secretary for Labor & Welfare Matthew Cheung said the Labor Department is studying the feasibility of paternity leave in Hong Kong and the findings should be available for the Labor Advisory Board to consider next year.

He would consider the impact of the leave on small and medium enterprises, and legal matters such as how to deal with paternity leave in cross-boundary marriages.