Where your tax goes

Government Secretariat: Labour and Welfare Bureau

This head (Head 141) has a 2026-27 estimate of HK$1.7 billion p.2. That is HK$281.6 million (14.4%) less than the 2025-26 revised estimate of HK$2.0 billion p.2 (our calculation).

A household on the median income pays about HK$1,120 in salaries tax for 2026/27; about HK$2 of that would go to this department. A household on the median income earns HK$30,000 a month p.17. If one married person earns all of it, salaries tax under the 2026/27 rules is about HK$1,120 (our calculation, after MPF and the married person's allowance p.107, at progressive rates p.1). (our calculation: HK$1,120 × this head's estimate p.2 ÷ total government expenditure of HK$843.4 billion p.12. Tax is not earmarked; this splits it in proportion.)

Spending by year

Year HK$ million Source
2024-25 Actual 1,820.3 p.2
2025-26 Original estimate 1,993.8 p.2
2025-26 Revised estimate 1,960.6 p.2
2026-27 Estimate 1,679.0 p.2

A revised estimate is the Government's latest view of the current year's spending. Year-on-year changes compare the 2026-27 estimate with the 2025-26 revised estimate.

How many staff?

The establishment goes from 159 posts on 31 March 2026 p.2 to 156 posts on 31 March 2027 p.2 (down 3, our calculation).

Which policy areas does it serve?

  • Social Welfare (part of the Social Welfare group)
  • Intra-Governmental Services (part of the Support group)
  • Manpower Development (part of the Economic group)

A department may work in a policy area only in part. We never add department spending into group totals: the Government publishes totals by group only. Index of Policy Areas (PDF)

Read the official document

Estimates, Head 141: Government Secretariat: Labour and Welfare Bureau (PDF). It has the Controlling Officer's Report, each programme's aims and spending by subhead.

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