SCS on civil service pay adjustment

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session in the Legislative Council Complex today (May 20):
 
Reporter: Do you think it's appropriate to … (inaudible) pay rise … (inaudible), given that the Hong Kong economy … (inaudible)?

Secretary for the Civil Service: As the Secretary for the Civil Service, I would follow closely the well-established mechanism in considering the annual pay adjustment for the civil service. This mechanism is for the Chief Executive-in-Council to decide on the annual pay adjustment. And in reaching a decision, we will look at not just the Pay Trend Survey result, but also the other relevant factors including the state of Hong Kong economy, the Government's fiscal position, changes in the cost of living, and of course the claims by the staff side, and also the possible impact on the morale of the civil service. So you would note that these factors are very comprehensive. And in reaching a decision, we need to consider all these factors and then take a view on it. So I would not suggest taking a view or announcing any possible outcome at this stage because this would pre-empt the decision to be made by the Chief Executive-in-Council.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)