Legco approves 12.4 per cent pay rise for top Hong Kong officials as pan-democrats outnumbered
Next chief secretary will make monthly salary of HK$371,550, followed by HK$359,000 for financial secretary and HK$346,850 for justice secretary
The Legislative Council’s Finance Committee approved funding for a 12.4 per cent pay rise for the city’s top officials in the next term, after a cat-and-mouse game between the pan-democratic and pro-establishment camps ended in the former being outnumbered in votes.
On a vote count of 26 to 22, the pro-establishment camp managed to have the motion passed.
With the pay rise, the monthly salary for the chief secretary in the next administration will be increased to HK$371,550, while the financial secretary will earn HK$359,000 and the secretary for justice will command HK$346,850.
Each bureau head will earn HK$335,100 a month.
Remuneration for each political assistant will be capped at 35 per cent of the ministerial salary, or not more than HK$117,300 a month.
The committee met on the issue for the fourth time on Friday.