All the newly-appointed deputy directors of bureau and political assistants have met the Basic Law requirement of being Hong Kong permanent residents, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam says.

Mr Lam told the Legislative Council today deputy directors of bureau are not principal officials, so the Central People's Government  does not appoint them, and they are not prohibited from having right-of-abode in a foreign country.

He noted the Basic Law's legislative intention is clear: Department Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries, Bureau Directors and a number of other department heads must be Chinese citizens and Hong Kong permanent residents with no right of abode in a foreign country.

While bureau deputy directors may act in the positions of directors when the directors are absent, they are still not Principal Officials and the acting arrangement is an administrative measure only. Such an arrangement does not contravene the Basic Law, Mr Lam stressed.

The eight appointed bureau deputy directors and some political assistants have publicly stated whether they have foreign rights of abode, he said, noting five under secretaries have indicated they have such rights.

Mr Lam said he respects their personal decisions on whether to disclose their foreign citizenship and how to handle it.

On the under secretaries' pay, four will receive a monthly remuneration of $208,680 each while the other four will receive $223,585. This represents 70% and 75% of a bureau director's remuneration.

Seven of the nine political assistants will get $134,150 a month - or 45% of a bureau director's remuneration. One will receive $149,055 - 50% of a director's pay - and the other $163,960, or  55% of a director's pay.

These political appointees will also have 22 days of annual leave, medical and dental benefits and Mandatory Provident Fund contributions. They do not receive housing or passage allowances and no gratuity.