Hong Kong civil servants could see pay rise of up to 4.12%, survey shows

Civil service to introduce rigorous appraisal system in October, under which bottom 10% of performers to face pay freeze

Hong Kong civil servants could receive a salary rise of up to 4.12 per cent this year, according to preliminary pay trend survey results, subject to final approval by the Executive Council.

The survey findings, based on data from 104 private companies and released on Thursday, suggest pay increases of 4.12 per cent for senior civil servants, 2.64 per cent for middle-ranking staff and 1.17 per cent for junior employees.

When asked whether a pay rise for public servants following the deadly Tai Po fire would trigger public backlash, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan stressed that most civil servants were professional, efficient and devoted.

“As for social sentiments, I think public reaction and acceptance of the proposed policy decision are factors the Executive Council will take into account when making decisions,” she said.

Yeung also announced plans to introduce a more rigorous performance appraisal system in October, with departments set to adopt a normal distribution curve under which the bottom 10 per cent of performers receiving a D to F on the six-grade scale will not receive a pay rise.

She added that the 10 per cent benchmark served as a guideline, with a 5 per cent buffer to be applied depending on departments’ circumstances, particularly where more staff performed satisfactorily.