Salary donation aims to help HK

February 29, 2020

Financial Secretary Paul Chan:
In considering the way to let our people know that we are willing to ride out this difficult period with them through a reduction in our salary, there are many different ways of doing it. Reducing our monthly salary is one way; making a donation to a charitable organisation is another. We chose the latter because we thought that by donating the salary to a charitable organisation, we would be able to help - although in a very small way - those citizens who are suffering hardship. We chose the Community Chest because it is a neutral organisation. Also, the Secretary for Labour & Welfare has liaised with the Community Chest to ask them to arrange for the whole amount of donation to be distributed to those (worthy) organisations without any deductions.

The governing team donating one month's salary to charity aims to help Hong Kong citizens going through hardships during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan made the remarks to the media after attending a radio programme today.

"In considering the way to let our people know that we are willing to ride out this difficult period with them through a reduction in our salary, there are many different ways of doing it. Reducing our monthly salary is one way; making a donation to a charitable organisation is another.

"We chose the latter one because we thought that by donating the salary to a charitable organisation, we would be able to help - although in a very small way - those citizens who are suffering hardship."

Mr Chan said the governing team chose the Community Chest because it is a neutral organisation.

"Also, the Secretary for Labour & Welfare has liaised with the Community Chest to ask them to arrange for the whole amount of donation to be distributed to those (worthy) organisations without any deductions," he added.