It was a silent and orderly protest. But when a group of officers from five disciplined services marched to the Central Government Offices on Sunday, they certainly made waves.
Indeed, the scenes of officers from the uniformed forces taking to the streets has unnerved the public, confronting their sense of order and stability.
Whether done deliberately or unwittingly, a protest banner with the slogan: 'Discussion without decision, decision without execution' has touched the most sensitive nerve of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and his team. The phrase was first uttered by former premier Zhu Rongji in comments on the governance of Hong Kong under Tung Chee-hwa.
The disciplined forces have vented their frustration over what they claim is the government's refusal to implement a grade-structure review that was released last November. Compiled by an appointed commission, the report recommended a pay rise for long service at lower levels.
At a time when Hong Kong has slipped into recession, the government has decided to tread carefully to avoid a backlash over a pay rise for the disciplined services.
Any feelings of patience and understanding among officers evaporated following a government decision to cut senior civil servants' pay by 5.38 per cent, in keeping with the findings of an annual pay-trend survey. The middle and lower ranks, meanwhile, will see their pay frozen.
