Hong Kong should refer to past pay cuts for officials amid deficit: ex-minister
Anthony Cheung urges lawmakers and top officials to ‘proactively show their readiness to go through the difficult times with ordinary people’
The Hong Kong government should take reference from past salary cuts for top officials and wage freezes for civil servants, as the moves can show their “readiness” to endure tough times with “ordinary people” and help get the public on board with cost-saving measures, a former minister has said.
Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, a former housing and transport minister, on Tuesday cited examples of salaries being frozen or cut under past administrations, as he outlined strategies for curbing a deficit that was forecast to reach about HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) in the current financial year.
“As our political leaders, the top officials, such as the chief executive, principal officials, Executive Council members and Legislative Council members, should take the lead and proactively show their readiness to go through the difficult times with ordinary people,” Cheung said.
“They have the responsibility for public finances since they decide on expenditure.”
He also said ministers in Singapore had previously seen their wages cut.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has said he will implement a host of cost-cutting measures in response to the deficit.
