Hong Kong civil servants manning Legco polling stations to get as much as 88 per cent pay rise for election work

Compensation for the most senior roles tops out at HK$19,750, but one union says increases might not impress staff given potential long hours and travel

About 39,000 civil servants from different bureaus and departments will be carrying out election-related work

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Civil servants on election day duty will have their compensation increased by between HK$110 and HK$5,830, depending on the polling station. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 12:25am, 17 Dec 2021

Authorities have increased the compensation for civil servants who will work at the roughly 630 polling stations set up across Hong Kong for the Legislative Council election on Sunday

But a major civil service group said the adjustment, which came amid complaints about being assigned specific polling stations this year, failed to address its concerns and called for compensation in the form of leave instead.

About 39,000 civil servants from different bureaus and departments will be carrying out election-related work.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (second from left) inspects voting arrangements at the Lo Wu boundary control point on Wednesday. Photo: Handout

The Registration and Electoral Office on Thursday said their honorarium would be increased by between HK$110 (US$14) and HK$5,830, depending on the polling station.

The biggest pay increase was for presiding officers at ballot paper sorting stations who must also assist with rehearsals before election day, with their total pay going from HK$6,880 to HK$12,710.

But assistant presiding officers at those same stations were given the greatest percentage increase, at 88.4 per cent, with their honorarium going from HK$2,590 to HK$4,880.

Presiding officers at polling stations serving more than 7,500 electors will receive the highest pay, at HK$19,750, up from HK$16,030.