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 (June 3):
Reporter: The disciplined services staff representatives said that civil servants haven't been invited or consulted before the decision … (inaudible)? And what do you think of their opinion that if an appropriate amount of pay rise is given to them, the economy will improve because they would have a stronger will to spend money?
Secretary for the Civil Service: In accordance with our established mechanism, the pay claims made by the staff unions is one of the six key factors (on civil service pay adjustment). Last week, I met with the staff side representatives of the four central staff consultative councils and four major service-wide staff unions and received their pay claims, listened to their views and concerns and communicated with them. So when the Chief Executive-in-Council considered the matter and took the decision, they have taken into account the pay claims and also the views and concerns expressed by the staff side.
Reporter: They said in this difficult time, if an appropriate amount of pay rise is given …
Secretary for the Civil Service: I think we are facing an unprecedented difficult situation now in Hong Kong. It's important that we deal with the epidemic, put it under control, and then we can be back to normal, or you can say "new normal". It is important that our economic activities can resume and we can relaunch our economy. And only by so doing, we can deal with the crisis we are facing and improve our livelihood, reduce the unemployment rate, and it is important that every one of us in the community have jobs to earn the living. So I think that is the way that we have to deal with the situation right now.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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