The Chief Executive in Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday approved a 15 percent salary rise for fourth-term legislators from 56,750 HK dollars to 65,263 HK dollars per month from October 2008.

The monthly remuneration for the Legislative Council (LegCo) president and deputy will continue to be fixed at 200 percent and 150 percent of members at 130,526 HK dollars and 97,895 HK dollars. Members will receive a 15 percent gratuity at the end of each term.

On the recommendation of the Independent Commission on Remuneration for Members of the Executive Council and the Legislature, the Chief Executive in Council Donald Tsang ruled the remuneration package for members of the fourth-term legislature be enhanced.

The commission noted there had been no change to members' monthly remunerations since 1991, except the annual adjustments in accordance with the movements of the Consumer Price Index.

With the increasing volume and complexity of LegCo's work, and the heavier responsibilities and higher public expectations placed on members, a greater commitment of time by them is now needed, the commission said.

Meanwhile, the Executive Council convenor and other non- official members will see their monthly honorarium restored to their original levels, of 100,030 HK dollars and 62,470 HK dollars, respectively, from Jan. 1, 2008.

The Executive Council members' monthly honorarium was cut by 10 percent in 2003 due to economic slowdown.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2007)