Hong Kong’s top decision-making body approves 3% pay rise for all civil servants

A pay trend survey announced last month had suggested increments of 4.01 per cent for high-ranking civil servants, 4.32 per cent for middle-level ones and 5.47 per cent for junior workers.

Union leaders had earlier called for pay rises that matched the survey figures, pointing to inflation, additional workload and staff shortages.

The vacancy rate in the 170,000-strong civil service has risen to 10 per cent, with more than 20,000 positions left unfilled.

Civil service chief Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said the 3 per cent increase was to acknowledge workers who “walked the extra mile” to resume normal operations after torrential rain battered the city last year, with a black rainstorm alert in force for more than 16 hours.

“In view of the government’s current fiscal deficit, we need to be prudent in handling the civil service pay adjustment,” a bureau spokesman said.

“In the meantime, the vacancy level in the civil service has climbed to 10 per cent under a tight labour market. Civil servants of all ranks have shouldered additional responsibilities.”

The spokesman added that the economy had recorded actual growth with inflation, with pay rises in private organisations over the past year.

The government said it would submit the pay rise proposal to the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee for consideration as soon as possible.

According to government estimates, a deficit of HK$48 billion will be recorded in 2024-25, followed by a surplus of HK$6.3 billion in the 2025-26 financial year.