Civil service minister Ingrid Yeung on Monday said public servant unions can still express views different from the government's on issues such as pay, even after the civil service code has been updated.

Authorities launched a consultation last week on the draft guidelines, which state that civil servants must safeguard national security and uphold political neutrality. They must also not refuse to implement policies they do not agree with.

At a Legco panel meeting to discuss the new code, unionist lawmaker Chau Siu-chung asked whether civil service unions would be against government policies if they disagree on a salary adjustment proposed by the authorities.

"If they seek to fight for a better deal in terms of pay and benefits, this will not be bound by the code. That's precisely the purpose of the unions," Yeung said.

"As long as they are doing things that are part of the Trade Unions Ordinance, and if they are proportionate, and if they are doing this in a way acceptable by the members of the public, then the civil service code will not have any impact on them."

The secretary for the civil service also called on public servants to be careful about what they say online, saying those remarks are no different from physical acts and can have a great effect on other people.