Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue Chung-yee has warned of legislating for a pay cut if the salary increase for lower-band staff this year eventually sees their wages outstrip market levels in 2012.
Civil servants in the middle and lower salary bands are set for a pay rise of 5.29 per cent this year, despite a survey of private-sector pay recommending the lower ranks receive only 3.9 per cent.
Lawmakers welcomed the government offering the same level of pay increase for civil servants in the middle and lower salary bands, saying this would help maintain the stability of the civil service.
But labour sector legislator Wong Kwok-hing feared a pay cut in 2012 would affect staff morale.
Civic Party legislator Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee asked if the government had implemented a mechanism to increase and reduce civil servants' pay levels.
Miss Yue replied: 'If a pay cut is required, we must do it by legislation.'