The Chief Executive-in-Council has decided to increase the pay for civil servants in the upper salary band and directorate by 2.87% and by 4.65% for those in the lower and middle salary bands, the Civil Service Bureau announced today.

The bureau made the pay offers, effective retrospectively from April 1, to the staff side of the four civil service central consultative councils.

The pay rise decision was made after considering all relevant factors under the established annual civil service pay adjustment mechanism, including the state of Hong Kong's economy, changes in the cost of living, the Government's fiscal position, the net pay trend indicators, the pay claims of the staff side and civil service morale.

After the Chief Executive-in-Council considers the response from the staff side and makes a decision on the civil service pay adjustment, the Government will submit the proposal to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for consideration as soon as possible, the bureau added.