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The Chief Executive-in-Council (CE-in-Council) had decided to accept the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service (Judicial Committee) to freeze the pay for judges and judicial officers (JJOs) for 2009-10, a government spokesman announced today (September 22).
This is the first time that judicial service pay adjustment is determined under the new mechanism, separate from that of the civil service, as approved by the CE-in-Council in May 2008.
"In coming up with its recommendation on judicial pay for 2009-10, the Judicial Committee has adopted a balanced approach, taking into account a basket of factors as approved by the CE-in-Council in May 2008, the principle of judicial independence and the position of the Judiciary," the spokesman said.
The basket of factors includes -
(a) the responsibility, working conditions and workload of judges vis-ˆj-vis those of lawyers in private practice;
(b) recruitment and retention in the Judiciary;
(c) unique features of the judicial service such as the security of tenure, the prestigious status and high esteem of the judicial offices;
(d) the retirement age and retirement benefits of JJOs;
(e) prohibition against return to private practice in Hong Kong;
(f) benefits and allowances enjoyed by JJOs;
(g) cost of living adjustment;
(h) general economic situation in Hong Kong;
(i) budgetary situation of the Government;
(j) overseas remuneration arrangements;
(k) private sector pay levels and trends; and
(l) public sector pay as a reference.
The Judiciary has indicated its support for the Judicial Committee's recommendation.
The Judicial Committee submitted its report to the Chief Executive (CE) on June 29, 2009, recommending a pay freeze for the JJOs for 2009-10. In response to the Administration's request for elaboration of its considerations leading to its recommendation, the Judicial Committee further provided a supplementary note on August 31. A copy of the report and the supplementary note are available at the website of the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service (http://www.jsscs.gov.hk/en/publications/reports_jscs.htm).
Ends/Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:40
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