HONG KONG: Civil servants have learned they must wait until the fall before recommendations on their salaries are submitted for final approval.

It's a hot issue among civil servants, some of whom face pay cuts, under a formula based on private sector salaries.

Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue promises recommendations on grade structure reviews will be submitted to the Chief Executive-in-Council in the fall. She made no mention of retroactivity once adjustments are made.

Yue spoke to reporters after meeting the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service (SCDS) yesterday morning. She revealed the informal session also covered the grade structure review report released last November.

"We will forward the administration's proposals on three grade structure reports to the Executive Council in September or October. This must include some important issues such as the implementation date of the government's opinions," Yue said.

The reports involve officers in the disciplined services, the directorate ranks, government counsels and veterinary officers. Recommendations include pay increases and other benefits for long-serving staff.

SCDS Chairman Barry Cheung Chung-yuen refused to reveal discussion about the retrospective date on the meeting, saying the administration has an established schedule. He said the SCDS will hold another meeting in late August, if necessary.

Cheung added the outcome of the review report will not satisfy every party.

The pay trend survey which may lead to salary reductions for over 160,000 civil servants aroused dissatisfaction from some staff representatives, owing to what the representatives branded as inappropriate methodology.

The police requested an independent review of the procedures, but that was rejected by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen. The staff were simultaneously upset by the slow progress of the grade structure review.

A planned protest rally by police was headed off last month when Commissioner of Police Tang King-shing said he would try to help.

Disciplinary service officers demanded any forthcoming pay-scale change be made retroactive to November 27, 2008.

Hong Kong Police Local Inspectors' Association chairman Tony Liu reiterated that the effective date the association requested is in line with convention.

"Our traditional practice in the past 20 years is to put the retroactive date no later than the release of the review report. If the administration's suggestion deviates from the convention, it must show justification," he said.

(HK Edition 07/31/2009 page1)