Government to expand expenditures on pension programme for civil servants

The government announces expenditures on pensions for civil servants and judicial officers in the previous financial year exceed 50 billion dollars.

This as the number of those eligible for the pension scheme this year is set to increase by 170,000.

Under the government pension scheme, civil servants and judicial officers appointed before June 1, 2000 are eligible for pension benefits until their death.

This as Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung notes beneficiaries of such pensions over the past five years have increased from 150,000 to 163,000.

She adds expenditures on the pension scheme have increased to over 50 billion dollars.

With expectations of some 5,000 additional individuals receiving pensions this financial year,

authorities will have to allocate another 16 billion dollars.

The eligibility of civil servants contracted under the old pension scheme is guaranteed by the Pension Benefits Ordinance.

Their pensions were determined by their salary at the time of departure from their positions and are adjusted for inflation on a yearly basis.

Lawmaker Junius Ho acknowledges the surge in expenditure on the pension programme, but he says while opinions may vary, they must all respect the spirit of the Basic Law.

The Civil Service Bureau, meanwhile, says measures are in place to ensure civil servants are not paid extra, and their pensions suspended upon death.