Legal challenge filed over police overtime pay

Kwok Cheuk-kin argues that the difference in treatment for police is unconstitutional and all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law. File photo: RTHK

Retired civil servant Kwok Cheuk-kin is seeking a judicial review over what he calls the government’s “preferential treatment” of the police force, with officers claiming HK$950 million in overtime payments since the anti-government protests began in June



In a writ listing financial secretary Paul Chan and civil service chief Joshua Law as respondents, Kwok said civil servants from other government departments, such as firefighters, medical and judicial staff, aren’t eligible for such overtime payments, and are only allowed to get time off in lieu.



Kwok, known as the "king of judicial reviews" for constantly lodging legal challenges against the government, argues that the difference in treatment is unconstitutional and violates Article 25 of the Basic Law, which stipulates that all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law.



He also accuses Chan of allocating extra resources to the police force despite the local economy entering a recession, and says Law is stirring up even more divisions within the government structure.



The High Court is yet to decide whether to allow the judicial review to go ahead.