HK govt mulls extending retirement age  

香港公务员拟实行延迟退休 其他行业可能跟进

香港特区政府上周五宣布，将就公务员延迟退休展开为期4个月的社会咨询。港府是香港就业市场最大的雇主，而公务员也是香港唯一享有退休金的群体。这一群体延长退休，关系到香港的公共服务质量、财政支出和总体就业形势的变化，因而舆论颇为关注。[查看全文]

(ECNS) – To tackle problems brought about by an aging workforce, the Hong Kong government on Friday proposed an extended retirement age for new civil servants.

Secretary for Civil Service Paul Tang Kwok-wai said that under the new plan, the retirement age of newly-employed civil servants would be extended from 60 to 65, while the retirement age for police officers, fire fighters, and immigration and customs workers would be extended from 55 to 57.

The administration will launch a four-month solicitation of public opinion and announce the specific plan on August 2.

A shortage of government workers

The government is the biggest employer in Hong Kong, with over 160,000 people on its payroll. Civil servants are the only group to enjoy pensions. The retirement of these people will affect quality of public service, fiscal expenditure and the overall employment outlook.

About 4,000 civil servants retire each year, with the number expected to reach 7,000 in 10 years, while only 3,000 are recruited each year.

The Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union has reported a shortage of workers in some departments, dubbed the "great escape" of civil servants by local newspaper Ta Kung Pao.

The escape is partly caused by the mental pressure civil servants sometimes have to face. An increasing number of complaints are filed as the public have higher expectations of government service. In addition, opposition parties and some media misreport government performance, leaving civil servants feeling cheated.

Measures needed to ward off favoritism

Although many are supportive of the plan, some worry that department heads may extend the retirement age of those they like while hindering the promotion of others.

According to Tang, the Civil Service Bureau, instead of one single department head, would be in charge of the evaluation and approval of promotions and extended retirements.

Also, the government would be cautious about the positions it gives to re-employed workers to prevent a waste of resources, and contracts should not exceed two years.

Private sector likely to follow suit

Extending the retirement age has become a common trend as many societies are beset with aging populations. Moreover, many people past the age of 60 are still physically capable and want to work.

In Hong Kong, the private sector doesn't have a standard retirement age, but is predicted to take its cue from the public sector to raise the retirement age.

Hong Kong's elderly comprise more than one-third of those living in poverty. Many old people still work hard to earn their bread and butter, including taxi drivers, vendors, waiters or garbage collectors. Civil servants being retained at government positions may make room for those who want to get jobs in the private sector.

Professional organizations such as education groups may also benefit from the plan, as veteran workers bring valuable experience that younger workers don't have.