Senior Advisers to Hong Kong’s departing Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor have defended a decision to postpone discussions on a controversial proposal to raise Public Servants’ salaries by up to a record 7.26 per cent.
The Civil Service Bureau abruptly cancelled a scheduled meeting with unions to discuss the increase.
Multiple sources suggested the Government had decided to throw the hot-potato issue to the new administration under John Lee Ka-chiu, to be sworn in on 1 July.
“It was taken out because it’s too controversial,” a source said.
“The Chief Executive said let’s not discuss it yet because there’s no consensus within the Government.”
While Public Service unions have urged the current administration to make a decision on the pay rise, Executive Council Member, Ronny Tong Ka-wah said postponement was a responsible move.
“This concerns the Civil Servants of the next term of Government, so it’s legitimate for us to leave it for now, especially if more time is needed,” Mr Tong (pictured) said.
Another Executive Council member, Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung denied they were “leaving a mess for the next administration to clean up”, saying it was appropriate to listen to different views before making a decision.
Mr Lam said as any pay adjustment would be backdated to April, there was no financial difference between passing it now or in several weeks.
“The most important thing is to come up with a proposal that is acceptable to all, and which will not cause much pressure to businesses that have gone through a hard time in recent years,” Mr Lam said.
Political analyst, Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said the pay adjustment would require hard decisions from the city’s leadership, as some Public Service groups wanted the entire rise, while businesses, legislators and critics had strong reservations.
“It will be difficult for John Lee and his new Executive Council to decide whether to increase Civil Servants’ pay and if yes, by how much,” Mr Lo said.
“There will be intense public discussion, so it needs to be fully justified.”
Hong Kong, 10 June 2022
