2002 July Government forces through the Public Officers' Pay Adjustment Ordinance in Legco, imposing pay cuts of 1.58 to 4.42 per cent October & November Four police unions, the Civil Service General Union, senior assistant solicitor- general Michael Scott and police inspector Bernard Lau Kwok-fai sue the government for cutting their pay, saying this breaches the Basic Law 2003 February Government and unions agree civil servants' pay will be cut by 3 per cent a year in 2004 and 2005 June Court of First Instance rules the pay-cut bill is in line with the Basic Law November Attempt by Mr Scott to appeal against the ruling fails 2004 March Mr Scott and Mr Lau mount new legal challenge November Court of Appeal rules the 2002 pay-cut bill breaches Article 100 of the Basic Law December Court of Appeal grants leave for the first case to go to the Court of Final Appeal, saying the case involves an issue of great general and public importance 2005 February Court of First Instance rules the second piece of pay-cut legislation breaches the Basic Law June Government appeals to the Court of Final Appeal in the second case July 13 Court of Final Appeal considers the two cases and rules the pay cuts are in line with the Basic Law
