Letters | Hong Kong’s civil servants shouldn’t be target of misplaced frustrations

Readers discuss a suggestion to cut or freeze civil servants’ pay, a challenge in telling good Hong Kong stories, our addiction to smartphones, and holding Israel to account for the Gaza war

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The end of the work day at Hong Kong’s government offices in Admiralty on June 4. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 11:30am, 11 Dec 2024

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I am writing in response to the recent suggestion by economist Simon Lee Siu-po that the Hong Kong government could impose salary cuts or freezes on civil servants due to this year’s HK$100 billion (US$12.85 billion) deficit (“Lower land prices, civil service pay freeze among options to tackle Hong Kong deficit, experts say”, December 4). In a radio interview, Mr Lee suggested a salary cut of around 8-10 per cent across the board.

As a secondary school teacher whose salary is determined by the Civil Service Bureau’s Master Pay Scale system, I find this proposal particularly troubling. It seems that whenever there is a deficit, civil servants, including teachers, are unfairly targeted and penalised. We work tirelessly and with dedication, yet we are unjustly blamed for the fiscal shortfalls, which are beyond our control. What justification is there for holding us accountable for this financial predicament? Additionally, our salaries have not kept pace with the high cost of living in Hong Kong.

Why not eliminate tax breaks instead of targeting civil servants? The perception of civil servants as overcompensated is misguided. For instance, an assistant tax officer’s starting salary is approximately HK$17,000, an appropriate remuneration for a job with a stressful workload.

A few civil servants may fall short of public expectations, but the majority of us work with dedication and do not deserve to be criticised for our salaries. It’s important to recognise that the market largely dictates public-sector salaries, and, in reality, some civil servants and teachers do not enjoy the same benefits that private-sector employees do. We continue to serve the community to the best of our abilities and should not be subjected to misplaced frustrations.

In addressing the deficit, let us seek solutions that are equitable. It is crucial to explore comprehensive solutions to the deficit without unjustly affecting civil servants who continue to serve their community diligently.