Poor bargain

The proposal to almost double lawmakers' salaries from HK$73,150 to HK$141,000 has sent shockwaves through the community, with a majority of netizens criticising the proposed pay level for being unreasonably high. They say some lawmakers have not been doing their job and don't deserve a raise.

I was once a legislator and I have always been supportive of paying full-time lawmakers a reasonable salary with sufficient subsidies so they can do their work properly. But the current salary proposal has no rational basis.

If the remuneration package is to be improved, the argument should not be for better personal benefits. Instead, it should be about strengthening our system to prepare for democracy. Yet, members have unanimously supported the pay rise by arguing for personal benefits, and overlooked the fact that their duty is to serve the public.

I disagree with linking their pay to the wages of bureau secretaries - there's no direct comparison. To the politically accountable principal officials, their job is a career. But being a lawmaker is a civic duty, and similar to other public services. Legislators should be honoured to be given this responsibility.

Besides, legislators enjoy numerous privileges. They have access to the VIP facilities at the airport, have designated parking spaces at the Legislative Council and have priority treatment when it comes to government functions.

If they want to link their pay to the salaries of bureau chiefs and senior civil servants, there is a need to revamp the current structure and make all elected legislators professional politicians. Then, they would have to follow a career path and should not demand that their pay be raised immediately to the level of bureau secretaries'. As it is, the public is certainly not convinced they deserve the rise.