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SCMP Reporter

Trade unions strongly condemned the recommendations of a taskforce on civil service pay, warning the government not to breach the Basic Law and accusing it of trying to wipe out established pay mechanisms.

The taskforce, comprising members of three government-appointed advisory bodies, has suggested a review of the methods used to determine pay levels, and a study into linking pay with performance.

Cheung Kwok-biu, chairman of the Hong Kong Civil Servants' General Union, reminded the government to adhere to Article 100 of the Basic Law, which states that the pay and conditions of service of civil servants should not be less favourable than before the handover. 'If it is less than the level before the handover, it would be breaching the Basic Law,' he said.

Civil servants, except those at or above directorate three, have been granted accumulative salary increases of between 6.4 per cent and 6.6 per cent since the handover.

Mr Cheung said it would be difficult to determine how to link pay with performance: 'Will the number of thieves caught by a police officer affect his pay?'

Pang Tat-choi, chairman of the Senior Non-expatriate Officers' Association, criticised the group for coming up with aggressive reforms.

'It is not seeking improvement. Rather, it wants to wipe out the established mechanism. It is too radical,' he said.

Mr Pang said it would not be possible to set aside 20 to 30 per cent of their pay as flexible pay linked with performance, saying it would breach their employment contracts.

Peter Wong Hyo, vice-president of the Chinese Civil Servants' Association, said the taskforce contradicted itself.

'On one hand, it says it should not rush the reforms. But the reform is actually radical,' he said.

Leung Chau-ting, chairman of the Federation of Civil Service Unions, said linking pay with performance would affect team spirit.

But the Liberal Party's civil service spokesman, Howard Young, a taskforce member, said the government should implement the reform immediately.



Unions condemn 'radical' pay plans