Hong Kong’s civil servants are in line for record pay rise. Is it time to revamp how salary increases are determined?

Human resources experts and bosses of small businesses have called for a revamp of the method used to determine pay rises for Hong Kong’s 180,000 civil servants after a generous increase of up to 7.26 per cent recommended for this year raised eyebrows.

They say the current formula has placed too much emphasis on top firms and that year-end bonus or double pay – common in the private sector – should not be factored in as civil servants are already enjoying lucrative salary packages.