Remarks by SCS at media session (with video)
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Reporter: Secretary, could you provide me with more information on how the flat 2 per cent pay rise reflects the six considered factors that you and the Chief Executive keep mentioning? Also, right now, the flat 2 per cent increase is actually lower, for example, for the senior civil servants, compared to the initial net pay rise (trend) indicators. So, would you also say the Government did consider another important factor, which is social sentiment that some public members sort of like raised in the past week, when the Government or the Executive Council considered in making this final decision?
Secretary for the Civil Service: When the Executive Council came to this pay offer decision, the Executive Council has taken into account all the six factors in our pay adjustment mechanism, and has arrived at this conclusion. In taking into account factors that have objective figures to support, the Executive Council has not only taken into account those figures, but has also taken into account factors relevant to this year, 2026. Factors like the substantial financial commitment that the Government has to make for Hong Kong's future development, the geopolitical situation that has brought drastic changes to economies worldwide, the impact on Hong Kong's economy, and the continued lack of a definite, clear outcome of those geopolitical tensions, the Executive Council has taken all these into account. The net pay trend indicators have never been the single consideration of the Executive Council, and there is also no obligation for the Executive Council to follow closely or identically the net pay trend indicators. The Executive Council has to make a balanced decision, taking into account the most relevant considerations of the year.
As to whether public sentiments have been taken into account, I can say that in every decision made by the Executive Council, the Executive Council takes into account public sentiments, and this one included. Public sentiments are not only public sentiments about individual incidents, but also public sentiments about public expectations, about how the Government should manage its finances, and how the Government should act, should make responsible decisions about our future.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Ends/Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:32
Issued at HKT 18:32
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