****************************
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, on the extension of the service of civil servants beyond retirement age, at a media session today (April 3):
Reporter: What are the drawbacks on the changes as perhaps the promotion prospects of young employees will be undermined? And then it may make the civil service less attractive for the talent. How would the Government address this issue? And also have you calculated how much this change will cost the Government in terms of pensions?
Secretary for the Civil Service: The first question is we are aware of that so that is why what we are proposing now is that we would allow the Heads of Departments more flexibility to employ civil servants who will reach their retirement age beyond their retirement age but on condition that it should not unduly affect the promotion opportunities of younger officers. First of all, there is a need for their services and secondly it should not actually unduly affect the promotion opportunities of younger officers. As regards the second point, this is something that we would take forward in the second stage to ascertain the long-term financial implications of the package. Of course, we are basically focusing on the future when all the officers will be retiring at the age of 65 or 57. That means the government contribution will increase. That is why we need to ascertain how much the long-term financial implications would be.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, April 3, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:55
NNNN