Legislators On Both Sides Urge CE To Take Pay Cut

Several pro-establishment lawmakers have joined opposition leaders in calling for Chief Executive Carrie Lam to take a pay cut, rather than accepting a pay rise.

The cross-party consensus appeared during a special Legco finance committee meeting to discuss the budget, with some lawmakers raising concerns over Lam's salary increase amid the Covid-19 outbreak when many others are facing economic hardship.

Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki from the opposition pointed out that Lam's popularity rating is low and asked if it was possible to reduce her pay.

Two pro-establishment members, New People's Party's Eunice Yung and Roundtable's Michael Tien, also joined the call on Monday.

Yung pointed out that a lot of businesses and families in Hong Kong are suffering economically, and called on the CE to take a pay cut, adding to other world leaders from countries such as Turkey and South Korea have agreed to pay cuts.

She also noted that the government has said ministers will see if they will donate a part of their salaries if the situation gets worse and asked if "the worse is yet to come".

Tien said the CE should suspend her pay rise and take a 30 percent pay cut while borders are closed.

Shirley Lai, Permanent Secretary to the Chief Executive's Office, responded to questions over the CE's salary, saying that Lam's salary was set in accordance with an established mechanism, that an independent committee recommends the salary, and that it also requires approval from the Legislative Council.

Lai reiterated that 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.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Tien said it would be "totally insensitive" and would show a "lack of political acumen" if Lam insists on the pay rise at a time when others are struggling economically amid the Covid-19 outbreak, and when other world leaders are taking a pay cut.

Tien said that accepting a pay cut was "not simply a gesture, it is to actually get empathy from all the workers, front line, even mid-management to upper management of the entire community, sending a strong signal to them that as the number one in charge of Hong Kong, she is willing to set this personal sacrifice."

On Friday, it was reported that Lam will get an extra HK$120,000 in pay this financial year. With her annual salary hitting HK$5.21 million, this makes her one of the highest paid leaders in world.