The overseas education allowance for civil servants in Hong Kong is outdated and a comprehensive review is needed, the secretary for the civil service said yesterday.
Joseph Wong Wing-ping told lawmakers during a Legco meeting that the allowance was initially designed for those expatriate civil servants who work in Hong Kong.
'But now the allowance is outdated as our education system has improved very quickly over the past 10 to 20 years . . . we hope to carry out a comprehensive review of the overseas education allowance.'
He also said there was room to cut the allowance to help with reducing the government's huge operating expenditure in the next few years.
However, Mr Wong stressed that he would seek legal advice and consult the civil service unions before any decision was made.
He said this was because the allowance was included in the terms of appointment of staff members.