Some lawmakers said the government should take into consideration the impact of salary freezes for civil servants in recent years when deciding their pay this year.

The latest pay trend survey – released on Thursday – pointed to a pay rise of 4.12 percent for senior staff, 2.64 percent for middle-rank and 1.17 percent for juniors.

It's one of six major factors that will be taken into account when the Executive Council makes the final pay decision, which also include the state of the economy, cost-of-living changes, staff pay claims, civil service morale and the government's fiscal position.

Unionist legislator Chau Siu-chung said the latest pay trend findings were in line with expectations.

He pointed out that in the past six years, civil servants have experienced three pay freezes and two pay rises that were lower than the survey findings, and that their salary adjustments lagged behind the private sector.

“After the pay freeze last year, [the city] has actually experienced two years of inflation. Salary can be frozen, but inflation won’t be frozen. Two years of inflation have added up to as much as 3.8 percent,” he said.

“So I think that, on top of taking reference to the pay trend survey result, I hope the government can, after considering other factors, offer an increment for civil servants that is slightly higher than the findings.”

Chau, of the Federation of Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour Unions, said such a move would help maintain morale among civil servants and prevent their salary gap with the private sector from widening.

DAB legislator Nixie Lam also said civil service salaries had not caught up with inflation or private sector pay.

She added that when it comes to a pay decision, the government needs to adopt a prudent approach in ensuring the city is financially sound in the long run while making sure the quality of public services is sustainable.

Tsoi Koon-lung, president of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ Association, said it's too early to comment on the possible increment because the Executive Council will make a final decision later.

“The figure appears to be pretty good, but what matters most is whether this number will be endorsed. Regardless of whether the figure is high or low, we must ensure it is derived through rigorous scientific methodology and is reliable,” Tsoi said.

“Whether the result is favourable or not, if we confirm it was obtained through strict scientific procedures, we must accept it as one of the key factors for consideration.”


Edited by Edmond Fong