Civil Servant Pay Rises To Jump As Economy Booms

Over 170,000 civil servants are in line to receive a pay rise of between 2.84 percent and 4.51 percent this year.

That's according to the findings of a pay trend survey conducted by a government-appointed committee that looks into salary movements in the private sector.

The survey suggests a 4.06 percent jump for senior civil servants, and hikes of 2.84 and 4.51 percent for lower and middle-ranking staff.

The final level of increases will be decided by the administration and Executive Council after considering a basket of factors, including the outcome of this survey, as well as inflation and staff morale.

Last year, the committee proposed pay increases of between 1.38 percent and 2.44 percent, the smallest rises since 2010.

The chairman of the Pay Trend Survey Committee, Wilfred Wong, said the figures this year are significantly higher than those of last year due to a better local economy.

"The economical progress of Hong Kong and the trading ... for the second half of last year and the beginning of this year is better than the previous year. I believe all of the employers and the commercial sector are taking a positive approach, kept positive view in adjusting their salaries."

The chairman of the Hong Kong Senior Government Officers Association, Steven Wong, said his group generally welcomed the outcome of the survey this year.

"The findings reflect the situation in the private market," Wong said.