Hong Kong's Secretary for Civil Service Joseph Wong said here Friday the second round of civil service pay cuts will go ahead on Jan. 1 next year as scheduled.

After careful consideration, the government has made the decision, Wong said, adding that the decision is lawful.

The two-phase pay cut was a result of the strenuous efforts the management and staff sides made to reach a consensus, he pointed out.

"I am sure this decision will be acceptable to the vast majority of the civil service and it is considered reasonable by the community at large," he said.

Wong said he will write to all civil servants after the Court of Final Appeal has granted approval to the administration's appeal of the Court of Appeal's ruling on the matter.

Source: Xinhua