Fair pay: Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong says the Court of Appeal's ruling has found the pay-cut decision to be fully consistent with the Basic Law.

The Court of Final Appeal has ruled in favour of the government in the judicial review proceedings over pay cuts for civil servants. Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong welcomes the judgment, saying the pay-cut decision was found to be fully consistent with the Basic Law.

In a unanimous decision by five justices today, the Court of Final Appeal ruled that cuts in civil-service pay over the past three years are consistent with the Basic Law.

Speaking to the media on the judgment, Mr Wong said he always maintained the view the pay-cut decision was lawful, reasonable and fair, and was accepted by the overwhelming majority of the civil service.

He said the Court of Appeal's ruling has found the pay-cut decision to be fully consistent with the Basic Law, and it will bind all future relevant cases.

Mr Wong said he has full confidence the whole civil service will, as before, continue to discharge their duties and serve the public.

No room for further reductions

He said after the pay cuts, civil-service salaries have reverted to the 1997 level, and there is no room for any further reduction.