Working in Hong Kong

Demand for skilled professionals overseas is high. As a result, more and more people are travelling abroad for work.

Witan Jardine’s International service will help you to take advantage of these opportunities. Our team works with professionals who are relocating to Hong Kong or returning home, advising them on the latest opportunities and market trends.

We have access to hundreds of Accounting & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Operations and Sales & Marketing roles.

Positions are available at all levels and in permanent, contract, interim or temporary positions, giving you the flexibility to find the right type of work for you.

If this is your first visit to Asia, this area of our website will help you to find your way around the country and each capital city to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one, updating you on the vital information regarding tax, health, visas and accommodation.

For any other queries you have about Hong Kong, and to find out how we will assist you in finding employment, contact our International Team by email at: international@witanjardine.co.uk or call on +44 (020) 7430 7240.


Click on the links to view detailed information.

Applying for a Visa - guidance on work permits and visas

Money Matters - tax issues

Money Matters - opening a bank account

Documentation to take with you

Keeping Healthy – healthcare and dentists

Where to Stay - finding the right accommodation 

Out and About – information on transport and where to go

Useful Information – holidays and contact numbers
 

Applying for a Visa - guidance on work permits and visas

In order to work within Hong Kong you need to hold a valid work permit or visa. You can obtain these from your local Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate-General. For general information on the types of visa and permits available to you, your eligibility and to lodge a formal application, contact the Visa Office in Chinese Embassy in the UK or Visa Offices of the Consulate-General in Manchester or Edinburgh:

Post – 49-51 Portland Place London W1B 1JL

Phone – +44 (020) 7631 1430 between 2pm – 4pm on weekdays

Website – www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/lsyw/chivisa/t27087.htm or www.immd.gov.hk

Click here for our guide to Visas and Work Permits.

If your new employer is sponsoring you for a work visa (this is quite common) then they should provide you with all the necessary documentation and assistance you will require.

Money Matters - tax issues

If you are working in Hong Kong for the first time and intend to work as a normal employee you will be chargeable to Salaries Tax arising in or derived from Hong Kong from an office or employment or any pension. You need to complete and submit your Tax Return – Individuals (Form BIR60) to report your income. The current standard tax rate in Hong Kong is 15%.

B.I.R. 60 is issued to an individual taxpayer for him/her to report his/her salaries, rental income from solely owned properties and profits from sole-proprietorship businesses, and to elect personal assessment. It should be completed and signed by the individual taxpayer. If you receive B.I.R. 60 from Inland Revenue Department (IRD), you must complete and submit it in time even if you do not have any income to report. For details, please refer to “A guide to Salaries Tax for perople coming to work in Hong Kong” at the website http://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/pam42e.pdf

If you intend to leave Hong Kong, you should notify the IRD not later than one month before the expected date of departure. Upon receipt of notification, the IRD will decide whether the person leaving is required to settle all tax liabilities prior to departure.

A year of assessment runs from 1 April to 31 March of the following year. Provisional Salaries Tax for a year is usually based on the income less the allowances of the preceding year.

Apart from Salaries Tax, there is no Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Hong Kong.

To find out more about the Hong Kong tax system and download the forms, visit www.ird.gov.hk or call on the 24-hour Interactive Enquiry Hotline on 187 8088 (in Hong Kong).

Money Matters - opening a bank account

Whilst you are working in Hong Kong, you will need to have a bank account set up in your name or your Limited Company name to ensure you receive your monthly earnings. Opening a bank account is reasonably straightforward. Most banks will have an account operating for you as fast as 1 day. To open a bank account, you must apply in person at the bank. You will be required to provide the following information:

• Passport and/or other forms of identification (e.g. driving licence).
• Proof of local residence (telephone bill, electricity bill, or bank statement showing name and address)

As a precaution a reference from your bank in your home country will always provide solid evidence of your banking history.

Most banks and ATM’s (automatic teller machines) recognise international bankcards provided they have an international symbol on it, such as Cirrus/ Plus or Visa/Mastercard which will allow you to readily access your accounts and funds in most locations. We advise that you check with your bank that you have access to international and Internet banking processes before your departure.

There are several major banking institutions in Hong Kong to choose from for financial requirements. These include

Bank of China www.bochk.com
Citibank www.citibank.com.hk

Hang Seng Bank www.hangseng.com
HSBC www.hsbc.com.hk
Standard Chartered www.standardchartered.com.hk

Documentation to take with you

Your first few days in Hong Kong are more likely to be easy and problem-free if you arrive with the following documents: (all documents should be originals - not copies)

• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificates.
• Academic qualifications.
• References from previous employers.
• Up to date curriculum vitae.
• Credit references.
• An international drivers licence or permit.

Hong Kong money in mixed denominations ($1, $2, $5 and $10 coins; $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 and $1000 notes), as traveller's cheques may not be accepted for small purchases.

Keeping Healthy - healthcare and dentists

Most companies in Hong Kong will offer employees a medical insurance scheme, which will usually more than cover your basic requirements. If you need to supplement this, you can visit www.gov.hk/en/residents/health/hosp/index.htm for more information.

Dentists

If you require a dentist whilst working in Hong Kong you will need to pay for treatment (you do not need to register with a dentist until you need dental care). The Dental Council of Hong Kong can provide you with a list of dentists and any recommended treatments via www.dchk.org.hk/en/list/dentist_01.htm. Your best option is to ask for a recommended dentist at any established health organisation, or ask your work colleagues.

Where to Stay - finding the right accommodation

Finding accommodation when you first come to live in Hong Kong can be a job in itself. When you arrive, it is a good idea initially to rent a flat somewhere central while you decide where you want to live on a longer term basis. Prices and quality vary, so it is advisable to take some time to become familiar with the district you will be living in, and discover the types of flats Hong Kong has to offer and what they cost. If you have friends or contacts in Hong Kong they can provide you with valuable information on which suburbs might be best suited to you and your budget. If you are being sponsored by your new employer they may provide some assistance with this for you.

Real estate agencies are also a good source for finding accommodation. Like the UK, there is a strong demand for properties so you must move quickly and have a deposit and references ready to secure a place. You usually require 2 months rent for a deposit and will need to pay the Real Estate agent a fee which can vary from 2 weeks rent to a full month’s rent.

Newspapers and real estate agencies will publish lists of available accommodation within most districts. All you need to do is decide where you want to live and how much you want to spend!

Useful websites include:

www.savills.com.hk

www.centanet.com

www.midland.com.hk

www.shama.com

www.thev.hk

Here are some questions you may want to ask a potential landlord to save you some unnecessary stress:

• To avoid any confusion at a later date, ask the landlord what bills are included in the cost of the rent and what will be extra.
• Find out exactly how much the landlord is charging per month and ask if it covers the building’s management fees.
• Find out if the property is furnished or unfurnished.

Note – rental contracts are usually 2 year agreements with the first year been completely locked in. Thereafter you will need to give 2 months notice, therefore your initial commitment will be for 14 months, so choose carefully! You can get shorter term lets and more lenient contract terms, but they are less common.

<>Out and About - information on transport and where to go

By Car

If you intend on driving in Hong Kong you will need to produce your own local driving licence or apply for an international driving permit. Only residents are required to obtain a Hong Kong Driving licence.

For car hire, Avis, Crown Motors and Da Chong Hong all have offices in Hong Kong. For more information visit:

www.avis.com.hk

www.dchml.com.hk

www.crown-motors.com

Trains/Buses/Trams

The Hong Kong public transport system is efficient with railways, buses, trams and ferries readily available to take you to all destinations. For further information on specific transport times and destinations, please contact:

Railways:
www.mtr.com.hk

Buses:

www.citybus.com.hk

www.nwfb.com.hk

www.kmb.hk

www.newlantaobus.com

MiniBuses:

www.td.gov.hk/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/minibuses/index.htm

Ferries:

www.starferry.com.hk

Trams:

www.hktramways.com.hk

Taxis:

There are a number of commercial taxi companies that operate within Hong Kong. Taxis can be booked in advance or hired from taxi ranks and often provide the most effective form of transport, but usually also the most expensive. The initial taxi fare is HK$16 and thereafter, you are charged for the distance and time you spend in the cab so watch the meter! However, compared to the UK taxis are extremely cheap in Hong Kong and they are also in abundance, so are a popular form of transport.

 

Useful information

Useful Telephone Numbers

All of these numbers are available to contact in Hong Kong toll free 24hrs day.

Emergency Services - 999
Directory Inquiries Hotline - 1081 (English), 1083 (Cantonese)

Public Holidays in 2008

There are a number of fixed Hong Kong Public Holidays that might be worthwhile noting. They include:

1 January - The first day of January
7 February - Lunar New Year’s Day
8 February - The second day of the Lunar New Year
9 February - The third day of the Lunar New Year
21 March - Good Friday
22 March - The day following Good Friday
24 March - Easter Monday
4 April - Ching Ming Festival
1 May - Labour Day
12 May - The Buddha’s Birthday
9 June - The day following Tuen Ng Festival
1 July - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
15 September - The day following Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
1 October - National Day
7 October - Cheung Yeung Festival
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - The first weekday after Christmas Day