Hong Kong lawmakers who also sit on district councils set to get HK$12,000-a-month pay rise if colonial-era deduction is axed

Under current rules, politicians who are members of both Legco and a district council have their pay from the latter cut by a third

Government says reduction in honorarium belittles district councillors’ efforts

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Of the 69 legislators in Hong Kong, 24 are also district councillors. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 8:30pm, 10 Feb 2019Updated: 9:13pm, 11 Feb 2019

Hong Kong legislators who also sit on district councils could get a 10 per cent pay rise next year – amounting to HK$12,000 (US$1,540) per month – with the government set to scrap a deduction in place since colonial times.

The change takes into account the higher public expectations faced by politicians, who complain they may have to sacrifice their careers to serve constituents, though some argue the deduction makes sense as lawmakers wearing two hats are less committed to their local council.

“The discount to their [district council] honorarium belittled their efforts,” the Home Affairs Bureau said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council in January, adding that it gave the impression the politicians were not fully committed to their jobs.

Lawmakers are paid HK$98,540 a month. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The monthly pay for lawmakers and district councillors is HK$98,540 (US$12,560) and HK$32,150, respectively. Under the deduction mechanism, politicians who are members of both Legco and a district council have their pay from the latter cut by one-third, so instead of earning a combined HK$130,690 a month, they make about HK$120,000.

The government has proposed scrapping the deduction and increasing all district councillors’ pay by 5.6 per cent next year. It means those with dual roles will make HK$132,490 a month – up 10.4 per cent – while district councillors will get HK$33,950.