ExclusiveHong Kong election authorities increase the honorarium for presiding officers ahead of district council polls

The honorarium will be increased to HK$19,280 or HK$20,840, from HK$14,810 or HK$16,030, depending on the size of the polling stations

Pay hike is a part of the government’s efforts to conduct the polls smoothly, an official of the Registration and Electoral Office says

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The pay hike is a part of the government’s efforts to conduct the polls smoothly, an official of the Registration and Electoral Office says. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 9:24pm, 21 Nov 2019Updated: 10:49pm, 21 Nov 2019

Hong Kong’s election authorities have increased the honorarium for civil servants who will serve as presiding officers of more than 600 polling stations across the city for the district council elections on Sunday. The authorities decided this after finding it difficult to recruit staff for the purpose in the wake of months-long anti-government protests.

In an unprecedented move to ensure the elections are held smoothly, the Registration and Electoral Office informed presiding officers last Friday that their honorarium would be increased to HK$19,280 (US$2,463) or HK$20,840, depending on the size of their polling stations.

The Post reported on Thursday the government department, which was responsible for conducting elections in the city, had informed the presiding officers of the polling stations that they could claim up to HK$800 for staying in hotels near their respective booths on Saturday night to ensure they reached their designated places of duty by 6.30 the next morning.

The authorities found it difficult to recruit staff for the district council elections in the wake of months-long anti-government protests. Photo: Sam Tsang

A source familiar with the government’s preparations for the elections told the Post it was the second time the office had raised the honorarium for the heads of the 643 polling stations, including 620 ordinary booths and 23 booths inside police stations and correctional services institutions, since it launched a recruitment drive in April.

In April this year, the honorarium for presiding officers was set at HK$9,650 or HK$11,410 (depending on the size of the polling stations). In June, it was revised to HK$14,810 or HK$16,030.

The honorarium for deputy presiding officers of polling stations was also raised from HK$7,450 in April to HK$9,690.