Systematic approach: Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the Government has a set of established procedures to deal with a civil-service pay adjustment.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang says he and his political team will stand shoulder by shoulder with Hong Kong people to ride out these difficult times, adding the Government has a set of established procedures to deal with a civil service pay adjustment.

Speaking to reporters today, Mr Tsang said a pay adjustment for political appointees is separate from the civil-service system, and the political appointees' salaries remained unchanged when civil servants got a pay rise last year.

"However, the adverse impact of the financial tsunami on the economy has gradually surfaced. My political team and I will stand shoulder by shoulder with the people of Hong Kong to ride out these difficult times.

"But I also want to stress that whether the salaries of political appointees should be changed should not affect the established procedures for a civil-service pay adjustment."

Noting he is aware of the public concern about a civil-service pay adjustment, Mr Tsang said the Civil Service Bureau will follow the established procedures and listen to the views of the civil servants' associations.

"The Chief Executive in Council will then take into account all relevant factors before deciding whether pay adjustments are necessary."