Best choice: Chief Executive Donald Tsang tells the media the new political appointees have been chosen after a rigorous selection process.

The eight newly-appointed undersecretaries and nine political assistants have voluntarily disclosed their salaries, given the sustained public interest in the issue.

The Government has already provided a breakdown of their salary points, balancing personal information protection and the public's expectation for greater transparency, and has no dissenting views to their decision to further disclose pay details.

Addressing the media today Chief Executive Donald Tsang said he understands the public great expectation on the transparency of salaries as these are new political posts. He said as the Government has put higher requirements on the candidates, it has adopted the salary scale's median point in calculating salaries.

Individual pay

Under Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam, Under Secretary for the Environment Dr Poon Kit, Under Secretary for Food & Health Professor Gabriel Matthew Leung, and Under Secretary for Transport & Housing Yau Shing-mu will earn $208,680 per month. Their salaries represent 70% of bureau directors.

Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So, Under Secretary for Education Kenneth Chen, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Julia Leung and Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui will earn $223,585 a month - 75% of bureau directors' salaries.

Political Assistant to the Financial Secretary Raymond Cheung, Political Assistant to the Secretary for Education Jeremy Young, Political Assistant to the Secretary for Food & Health Paul Chan, Political Assistant to the Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui, Political Assistant to the Secretary for Labour & Welfare Zandra Mok, and Political Assistant to the Secretary for Security Victor Lo will earn $134,150 per month, 45% of bureau directors.

Political Assistant to the Secretary for the Environment Linda Choy receives $149,055, half a bureau director's pay, while Political Assistant to the Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Katherine Ng receives $163,960, 55% of a bureau director's salary.

Right of abode

On the nationality issue, Mr Tsang reiterated the Government must act according to the Basic Law and the Central Government's policy towards Hong Kong.

Noting five undersecretaries with foreign right-of-abode have already renounced their rights to show their commitment to the city and to put the matter to rest, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong people who have returned after emigration are serving the city and have helped make it a success.

Mr Tsang said their recruitment is part of the Government's drive to attract talented people from different backgrounds to provide an efficient and stable civil service. He said a rigorous process was used to choose the officers.

Appointees' pledge

Meeting the media after Mr Tsang's briefing, the appointees said their experience and expertise will help the Government formulate and launch new policies.

Noting they will co-operate with civil servants and lawmakers and listen to public views, they said they will work to win people's trust and recognition. Gregory So, Florence Hui and Gabriel Leung said their appointments were not about money but serving the community.

Yau Shing-mu said the disclosure of their nationality and salaries is a complicated issue because it involves legal, constitutional and privacy matters. Julia Leung said they have had good communication with the Government over the matter, while Raymond Tam said the undersecretaries reached a consensus after considering legal issues and people's right to information.

Dr Poon Kit and Kenneth Chen said although some undersecretaries have to work beyond their professional areas, it will not affect their performances because they do not work as technical officials. They can supplement civil servants' work with their executive experience and social networks.