The Executive Council (ExCo) yesterday decided to raise the salaries of civil servants in the upper salary band by 6.3 percent and 5.29 percent for those in the middle and lower bands.

The pay offers for civil servants in the upper and middle salary bands are in line with a proposal submitted in May by an advisory body on civil servants' salary and conditions of service.

The pay increase for the lower salary band is brought up from 3.9 percent due to a "bring-up" arrangement approved by the ExCo.

Under such arrangement which was introduced in 1989, the ExCo may decide to give civil servants in the lower band the same pay rise as those in the middle band.

The ExCo said it has taken into account the advised pay adjustment, the state of the economy, the government's fiscal position, changes in the cost of living, the staff sides' pay claims, and the state of civil service morale.

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) said the bring-up arrangement is an independent decision which may vary from year to year.

"The staff sides should have no expectation that it will be (applied in future years)," the CSB said.

The Hong Kong Senior Government Officers Association, Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union and Model Scale 1 Staff Consultative Council welcomed the pay rise, saying this could relieve the financial burden amid inflation.

However, the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association (HKCCSA) found the ExCo decision regretful.

Although the pay increase for civil servants in the lower band is brought up to 5.29 percent, this still lags behind the 5.4 percent inflation rate recorded in April.

"The inflation rate will keep on surging in the future and this would put on pressure on civil servants in the middle and lower salary bands," HKCCSA vice-president Li Kwai-yin said.

HKCCSA maintains its proposal to unify the rates of increase for all salary bands.

She said the government has such capability due to a large surplus from last financial year.

"This could also enhance team spirit and staff morale," Li added.

The ExCo will consider the response from the staff sides before making a final decision by the end of this month, and submit to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for approval.

Once the rates are finalized, the pay rise will be implemented retroactively from April 1.

(HK Edition 06/04/2008 page1)