Structural revamp: Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue briefs reporters on the grade structure review.

The Chief Executive-in-Council has accepted the recommendations made in the three grade structure review reports on the directorate, the seven disciplined services, the veterinary officer grade and the non-directorate ranks of the legal grades, Secretary for the Civil Service Denise Yue says.

Subject to Legislative Council approval, the recommendations relating to salary and increment will be implemented with retrospective effect from April 1 this year.

The maximum pay point of the police sergeant rank and comparable ranks in the other disciplined services will be raised by two points, instead of one as earlier proposed.

"This is to ensure their pay is commensurate with their work and responsibilities and there is an appropriate pay relativity between these ranks and their immediate lower ranks," Ms Yue said.

A special arrangement will be put in place for calculating the pension benefits of civil servants who have retired, resigned or died between November 27 last year and March 31, or who were injured or died on duty with an additional or dependant pension during that period.

Review frequency

The Executive Council decided to allow the comprehensive reviews on the civilian directorate and the disciplined services to be undertaken as and when necessary, to provide greater flexibility.

The Government also agreed work hours for Customs officers can be shortened, as the arrangement will not incur extra funds or manpower and will not affect service quality, Ms Yue said, adding other disciplined services do not meet the criteria.

The other recommendations on job-related allowances and conditioned hours of work should be implemented from a prospective date when the necessary arrangements are put in place.

"In reaching its decision, the CE-in-Council has had regard to, among others, the recommendations of the three advisory bodies on civil service salaries and conditions of service, the views and comments of the concerned departmental management and staff sides, Hong Kong's economic situation and the wider community interest," Ms Yue said.

The extra spending to implement the recommendations will be $807 million, of which $780 million will go to the disciplined services. LegCo approval will be sought in the coming weeks.