For many expats living in China, their experience of Hong Kong is limited to using it as a stopover on their way to further destinations in Asia and beyond or, in the past before mainland China tightened up its immigration regulations, making the occasional visit to renew their visa.

 If you are currently living in Shenzhen, Dongguan or Guangzhou, the chances are that you might travel to Hong Kong more often due to these cities being located within the Pearl River Delta. Increasingly, however, many expats working in China are deciding to relocate to Hong Kong for a variety of reasons, including lower taxation and higher salaries. Over the course of two articles, we’re going to explore the essentials that you need to know before taking the plunge and moving to the Pearl of the Orient.

Photo: Pasu Au Yeung

What do you intend to do?

This seems blindingly obvious, but it’s a serious question, and one worth considering very carefully before you decide to up sticks and try your luck at finding a job. The problem is this: the majority of expats who live in Hong Kong have been sent there by their companies, and these are usually large financial institutions. It’s not the sort of place just to turn up with your suitcase with no fixed plan hoping to get a gig at JP Morgan. However, that’s nothing to get downhearted about; after all, thousands of people move to Hong Kong every year and get hired locally in a variety of industries, so it is not a closed shop. However, you need to be focused on what you want to do before you leave China.

As well as finance, education is a big employer for expats (for the suitably qualified), as is advertising and marketing, construction, journalism, recruitment and the food & beverage industry. It’s very much like being in a Western country, where employers value experience and educational background. Also, it is worth remembering that people in Hong Kong speak English, as well as Cantonese and, increasingly, Mandarin, so competition for some positions, such as writing or teaching jobs, tends to be higher than it is in Mainland China.

In order to scope out the job market, you need to do your research to find out what is available in your chosen area of expertise. Possibly the most popular jobs website used by expats in Hong Kong is jobsDB, a typical recruitment site that lets you upload your CV and search listings, and most companies across the gamut of industries tend to use it to advertise positions. But there are others, and don’t forget to check jobs advertised on LinkedIn, either.

Hong Kong job listings:
1) www.jobsdb.com.hk
2) www.indeed.com.hk
3) www.geoexpat.com

It could also be worth getting in touch with a recruitment agency. Many of the big agencies, such as Michael Page and Reed have offices in Hong Kong. Try searching online to find something that suits your needs.

Becoming legal

The second big issue to consider is getting your work visa and the all-important Hong Kong ID card. There is a golden rule that should not be broken: don’t ever attempt to work in Hong Kong without a work visa. If you do, the legal consequences could be severe, and as well as receiving a large fine, you might end up serving a custodial sentence. The immigration department is very clear about this.

Sternness aside, companies do hire expats locally, and as such will be happy to sponsor your visa if they think you can do the job. All you have to do is convince them that you have a skill needed for your particular role that is unlikely to be found amongst the local population. It could be that you are a native English speaker with a background in journalism, or that you have built up valuable experience dealing with factory managers in China and can speak fluent Mandarin. You might even be a university lecturer who specialises in some obscure area of applied linguistics.

So let’s assume you have the skills the company is looking for and they give you the job. They will apply for your visa immediately. It’s quite similar to the process in Mainland China, but far simpler. There are fewer forms to fill in and documents to provide, and you won’t have to go for a full medical check. However, the whole process still takes roughly six to eight weeks. Once your visa has arrived, you will also receive your ID card (which you will have applied for at the same time as the visa). The ID card is second in importance only to your passport. It will stay with you throughout your entire time in Hong Kong. You will never need to renew it, and it allows you to glide effortlessly through the Hong Kong eChannel at customs with a mere swipe of the thumb. Once you have it in your possession, life becomes a lot simpler because you need it to apply for phone contracts, the internet and other services. 

For full information about applying for a Hong Kong work visa and an ID card, visit:
http://www.immd.gov.hk/en/services/hk-visas/index.html.

Money, money, money

Assuming your new company wishes to pay you every month, you’ll need a bank account. The majority of expats in Hong Kong use HSBC, Citibank or Hang Seng, a local bank in which HSBC is a major shareholder. There are also more familiar banks that you’ll have seen on the Mainland, like China Construction or Bank of China. However, they are, to all intents and purposes, separate businesses. For the sake of convenience, it’s easier to bank with one of the first three mentioned. They are international banks, which makes applying for credit cards, doing money transfers and making online payments a breeze.

Opening an account in Hong Kong is fairly straightforward. You will need to provide proof of address (your address in your home country will suffice, such as a UK driving license), and your passport. Some banks might ask for extra documentation, such as your employment contract and a letter confirming your salary, but in general the process is fairly stress-free.

In the next article, we shall examine some of the different areas to live, the type of accommodation available, health and supermarkets.   

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