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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session given by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, today (June 23) on the 2009-10 civil service pay adjustment:
This morning, the Chief Executive-in-Council has decided on the civil service pay adjustment for 2009-10. The decision is:
(i) a pay freeze for civil servants in the lower and middle salary bands; and
(ii) a pay reduction by 5.38% for civil servants in the upper salary band and above.
The pay reduction will be implemented through legislation. We aim to publish the Public Officers Pay Adjustment Bill in the Gazette this Friday. I will introduce the bill into the Legislative Council on July 8.
The pay reduction will take effect from the first day of the following month after the commencement of the ordinance.
I have just relayed the Chief Executive-in-Council¡¦s decision to the staff sides of the four central consultative councils.
As you are aware, on November 27 last year, the relevant advisory bodies on civil service pay and conditions of service submitted their reports to the Chief Executive on the grade structure reviews for three sets of grades, namely (i) the directorate grades, (ii) the disciplined services grades, and (iii) selected non-directorate civilian grades. We have already completed consultations with the concerned staff sides and departmental management, and are considering the recommendations carefully.
The Chief Executive-in-Council this morning asked the Administration to make a submission on the three grade structure review reports this September/October.
I would like to add that the Executive Council's request to consider the three grade structure review reports is not related to this year's civil service pay adjustment.
Thank you very much.
Reporter: Are you concerned that there would be rallies and demonstrations in protest of the decision by the Chief Executive-in-Council? And also do you think it has considered the recommendations of the civil servants enough since they are disappointed with the decision?
Secretary for the Civil Service: The civil service in Hong Kong is a team of outstanding, professional public officers. This is not just my own personal firm conviction. I believe the civil service in Hong Kong commands the respect of the community of Hong Kong. Civil servants, being employees, from time to time would wish to discuss with the management, mainly the employer, on their pay and conditions of employment. This is totally understandable. And we have established mechanisms and channels of communication and avenues of consultation with members of the civil service. As the Chief Executive said yesterday, I believe that civil servants at large would continue to make use of these well-established mechanisms and consultative forums to discuss and resolve their issues relating to pay and conditions of service with the management. The decision taken by the Chief Executive-in-Council this morning on civil service pay adjustment for 2009/10 has been taken after the most thorough consideration, including all the submissions from the staff sides of the civil service. So I firmly believe that the sentiments and the issues of concern raised by the staff sides of the civil service have been thoroughly considered by the Chief-Executive-in-Council before arriving at the decision.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:23
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