Hong Kong customs, corrections representatives demand equal pay with police force, call current salary gap discriminatory
- ‘We’re all law enforcers. We don’t understand why there is such a big pay discrepancy,’ union leader tells Legco panel meeting
- Previous studies in 1988 and 2008 have ruled that police work is unique from other disciplined services and deserving of higher pay
Customs and correctional services representatives described feeling “abandoned” and discriminated against by the government on Monday as they argued their officers should be paid just as much as members of the Hong Kong police force.
In a Legislative Council panel meeting on public services, chairman Chan Siu-kau of the Customs and Excise Staff General Association complained that current salary caps meant a police station sergeant could earn as much as HK$13,000 (US$1,673) more than a customs officer of the same rank.
Police station sergeants earn between HK$41,680 and HK$59,225, according to public data.
“We’re all working in the disciplined services, and we’re all law enforcers. We don’t understand why there is such a big pay discrepancy,” Chan said in a meeting to review pay grade structure for the services.
The starting salary for a police inspector is about HK$43,000, while that for a customs inspector is HK$39,000.
