Hong Kong authorities endorse proposal to give public servants pay rises of up to 4.65 per cent
- Unions voice concern over high-ranking staff only receiving 2.87 per cent increase
- Increases to cost taxpayers HK$5.2 billion for year
Hong Kong’s public servants will receive a pay rise of up to 4.65 per cent under a proposal endorsed by authorities that will cost taxpayers HK$5.2 billion (US$663 million) for the year.
The government will now need to apply to the legislature for HK$11.52 billion in funding to cover the pay increases for civil servants as well as for staff of the city’s graft-buster, subvented organisations and auxiliaries.
“In arriving at this decision, the chief executive and the Executive Council have thoroughly considered the staff side’s response to the pay offers and other relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including the state of Hong Kong’s economy; the government’s fiscal position; changes in the cost of living; the net pay trend indicators; and civil service morale,” the Civil Service Bureau said on Tuesday.
The bureau said it planned to seek the approval of the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee regarding the civil service pay adjustment proposal in July.
Plan to raise Hong Kong civil servants’ pay endorsed by Executive Council
The latest adjustment was mostly in line with the results of an earlier pay trend survey, based on data collected from 108 private companies, that suggested increments of 2.87 per cent for high-earners, 4.65 per cent for middle-ranking employees and 4.5 per cent for junior members of the civil service.
In a brief submitted to the legislature on Tuesday, the Civil Service Bureau noted staff side representatives, except those representing the lower salary band, were dismayed by the pay offers. But the current adjustment was the best balance that could be achieved, it said.
Several unions, including the Hong Kong Senior Government Officers Association and the Chinese Civil Servants’ Association, had earlier expressed disappointment over the proposed 2.87 per cent increase for senior staff, saying the administration had not considered morale.
The Hong Kong Senior Government Officers Association said it had no comment over Exco’s decision.
Li Kwai-yin, the president of the Chinese Civil Servants’ Association, which earlier floated a counterproposal of a 5 per cent raise across the board, said she was disappointed and it was a pity that the administration did not seize the opportunity to boost the morale and unity of the public service.
Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan earlier dismissed concerns about whether the increases would be enough to reduce high staff turnover, adding pay was not the only factor in a decision to join the civil service and continue to serve.
Legco’s public service panel will discuss the adjustment on Monday.
