Civil servants could get pay rises of up to 4.65 percent this year, following a survey of salary changes at 108 private companies.

The results of the annual pay trend survey point to increases of 2.87 percent for senior civil servants, 4.65 percent for middle-ranking workers and 4.5 percent for junior staff.

Last year's survey indicated pay rises of up to 7.26 percent, but the government eventually decided on 2.5 percent for all staff.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Clement Leung was asked how much weight will be put on the survey's findings this year.

"This is one of six factors for the Executive Council to determine the proposal and the decision for pay increase for civil servants this year," Leung said.

"There is no question of the Executive Council accepting or rejecting or modifying the outcome of the survey."

The Civil Service Bureau said it will meet representatives from the workforce this month to discuss this year's salary adjustments.

The president of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association, Li Kwai-yin, said she hopes for rises to make salaries catch up with inflation, noting there was a two-year pay freeze during the pandemic before last year's 2.5 percent increases.

She also said it's important to boost morale among government workers.

"The manpower shortage in the civil service is leading to ever-increasing workloads," Li said. "The shortage is about eight percent of the total number of civil servants - about 16,000. This figure is going to increase in the coming years."

Li added that the government is financially sound and capable of "reasonable and encouraging" salary adjustments.
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Last updated: 2023-05-17 HKT 18:20