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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) Board further discussed and approved at the Administrative and Operational Meeting today (November 19) a special upward pay adjustment of 3 per cent for around 3 200 staff members at HA General Pay Scale point 45 and above or equivalent.
The HA Chairman, Professor John Leong, said that the Board, in making the decision, has considered a basket of factors including staff morale and retention, competitiveness of the HA pay scale, and the HA's financial position and related arrangements which have been looked into by the Finance Committee of the Board. As approved by the Board, the special pay adjustment will be back dated to October 1, 2014. Serving eligible staff will receive the revised salary and back pay in November 2015. Internal communication will be arranged for announcement to staff.
Professor Leong reiterated that the HA relies heavily on the Government's funding for its operation and has a duty to exercise due diligence in managing its resources. The Board agreed that internal resources would be deployed alongside efficiency gains and savings to meet the additional recurrent financial commitment arising from this special pay rise while not affecting patient services. The additional financial commitment is about $216 million per annum and $100 million one-off in 2015-16.
Professor Leong and Board Members expressed appreciation again to the Government for the ongoing commitment and support to public hospital services, as well as the dedication and professionalism of staff in providing quality healthcare services to the community.
Ends/Thursday, November 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:50
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