appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Connor Mycroft

Hong Kong’s top ministers and other political appointees have received a 1.3 per cent pay rise, authorities have confirmed, after the government announced in June that civil servants would get a 2 per cent salary bump.
In a reply to the South China Morning Post, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said on Friday that the decision was based on recommendations by an independent commission tasked with reviewing the salaries of politically appointed officials, lawmakers and the Executive Council.
“According to the mechanism approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee, the pay of politically appointed officials is adjusted annually in line with the average annual change in the C category of the consumer price index,” it said.
The category covers about 10 per cent of Hong Kong households with higher average monthly expenditures.
“Under the annual adjustment mechanism, the cash pay of politically appointed officials at all levels will increase by 1.3 per cent from July 1, 2026,” the bureau said.
The increase aligns with inflation levels affecting those in category C. The figure rose by 1.3 per cent over a 12-month period ending in May.

Last year, the government introduced a pay freeze for the chief executive, politically appointed officials, non-official Exco members, all civil servants, lawmakers and other posts.
The decision was part of efforts to contain expenditure and tackle the city’s deficit.
The bureau did not provide the exact figures for the new salaries.
The SCMP calculated that the monthly salary of the chief secretary for administration, the city’s No 2 official, had risen to HK$422,755 (US$53,900). The figure is based on his previous salary of HK$417,330, which was cited in a letter to lawmakers in 2024.
For the financial secretary, the monthly salary will have increased from HK$403,215 to HK$408,457, while the pay for the secretary for justice will have risen from HK$389,580 to HK$394,645.
The three deputy secretaries of departments were previously paid HK$382,990 and now earn HK$387,969, while 15 bureau chiefs were paid HK$376,405 and now HK$381,298.
The pay rise for politically appointed officials follows Legco’s approval of a flat 2 per cent pay rise for civil servants this year.
Several lawmakers had criticised the increase, which took effect retroactively from April, saying it fell short of the pay trend survey’s recommendation and demands from unions.
The current pay mechanism for politically appointed officials was accepted by then-chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in May 2022, based on a recommendation by the independent commission.
Aside from 2025, a pay freeze was also implemented for politically appointed officials in 2020 and 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Between 2022 and 2024, the pay increase ranged from 1.8 per cent to 4.1 per cent.
With the latest adjustment, Hong Kong ministers and other political appointees have seen their salaries increase by around 27.8 per cent cumulatively over the last decade.


Tung Chee-hwa’s legacy helps lay foundations for better tomorrows

‘His love for Hong Kong was profound’: Tung Chee-hwa honoured at state funeral

Hong Kong’s first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa honoured with state funeral

US Congress investigates diversion of sensitive F-35 parts to Hong Kong: report

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong ministers get 1.3% pay rise after civil servants secure 2% salary bump

Authorities have said the decision was based on recommendations from an independent commission. Photo: Jelly Tse

Under the new pay rise, Chief Secretary Eric Chan is calculated to now be earning HK$422,755 a month. Photo: Karma Lo

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

Secretary for Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan has rejected suggestions that public servant pay rises are being suppressed. Photo: Dickson Lee

Lawmaker Aaron Bok has voiced concern that the 2 per cent flat increase will damage the civil service’s attractiveness. Photo: Elson Li

A post office branch in Causeway Bay. Hongkong Post has recorded eight consecutive annual losses since the 2017-18 financial year. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Union warns reduced civil servant pay rise after Tai Po fire would ‘bow to populism’

The government froze civil servants’ pay last year. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong has about 170,000 civil servants. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong civil servants to get flat 2% pay rise amid fiscal prudence

The government froze civil servants’ pay last year. Photo: Karma Lo

Chief Executive John Lee says the revamped system will improve accountability and recognise hardworking civil servants. Photo: May Tse

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

South China Morning Post calculates monthly salary of chief secretary for administration, city’s No 2 official, has risen to HK$422,755


South China Morning Post calculates monthly salary of chief secretary for administration, city’s No 2 official, has risen to HK$422,755.


Hong Kong economy

China

SCMP

Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau

Hong Kong ministers get 1.3% pay rise after civil servants secure 2% salary bump

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}South China Morning Post calculates monthly salary of chief secretary for administration, city’s No 2 official, has risen to HK$422,755

South China Morning Post calculates monthly salary of chief secretary for administration, city’s No 2 official, has risen to HK$422,755