Hong Kong civil service chief vows ‘attractive’ pay rise once economy improves

Hong Kong's civil service chief has promised a "reasonable and attractive" pay adjustment for civil servants when the economy and public finances improve. This comes after the Legislative Council's finance committee approved a flat 2 percent pay rise for civil servants this year, effective retroactively from April. The committee scrutinized HK$6 billion in spending for this annual adjustment. Some lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction, arguing the increase did not meet the pay trend survey's recommendations or union demands. The decision followed an earlier review by the city's Executive Council.