Members of the government-appointed Pay Trend Survey Committee on Wednesday endorsed the proposed pay rises of up to 7.26 percent for civil servants, amid criticism that the figures were out of touch.

The latest survey released last week recommended salary increases of 2.04 percent for junior civil servants, 4.55 percent for middle-ranking workers and 7.26 percent for senior staff.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with various civil service unions to confirm the results, committee chairman Lee Luen-fai said the survey findings – which took into account the changes in salaries of nearly 130,000 employees in some 110 companies in the past year – were "real, objective and accurately reflected the market situation."

He said the firms that responded to the survey were generally "steady and good" employers.

"The government is a steady organisation, we don't want the government to be like some small and medium-sized enterprises that could close now and then. I am not saying there are problems with the SMEs, but companies that change their structures frequently may not be a good comparison," Lee said.

The government will next study the findings and consider a range of factors, such as the state of Hong Kong's economy, the government's fiscal position, inflation and civil service morale, before deciding the final pay awards.

The salaries of the 180,000-strong civil service had been frozen in the past two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.