CE, Cabinet To Take 10 Percent Pay Cut

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Wednesday that she and principal government officials will take 10 percent pay cuts for 12 months as the city struggles to cope with an economy hit hard by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

This comes after lawmakers from both the pro-establishment and opposition camps criticised the recent pay rise announced for the Chief Executive, which had ensured Lam continues to be one of the most highly paid leaders in the world.

But Lam said the decision to cut pay was not due to political pressure.

"We want to show we are going through this difficult time with the people," said Lam. "It's not a response to a certain political situation or request from anyone."

The CE said the pay cuts had been planned since the government started working on its third package of pandemic relief measures, and it was not a newly added item within the past two or three days.

In February, the government said Lam and her cabinet would each donate a month's salary to the Community Chest to show solidarity with the public amid the slowing economy.

But the HK$120,000 pay rise, which saw Lam's annual salary hitting HK$5.21 million, was slammed by critics who pointed out that it came at a time when thousands were facing job losses due to the coronavirus outbreak choking the city's economy.

The Executive Council has followed suit and cut the pay of its members by 10 percent for one year.

In a statement, non-official Exco members say that's "... to support the decision of the Chief Executive and her team in taking a pay cut and encourage different sectors of the community to show solidarity with the people."

Exco members have already announced the donation of one month's honorarium to charities in March.

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