[alexpwhite]

I will probably be taking up a job in HK (dependant on being granted a visa) and would like some advice on how an HK contract would differ from a UK contract, they only seem to want to give 10 days paid holiday. which isn't much. Does anyone know if this is standard with HK companies?

I would also be looking for somewhere to rent, i'm not too fused about location as i'm a keen cyclist so am prepared to cover a few miles to get a ferry on to the island. What would a 1 bed flat price range from? Big enough for 2, if my girlfriend comes out to work as well.

Thanks in advance
Alex

[KnowItAll]

Alex,

Yeah, the local standard is 10 days (min by law).

I'd try and negotiate a lil bit more if I were you.. give them the whole thing about you needing to go back to the UK for christmas and stuff ..

[alexpwhite]

Ok, i tried the chrsitmas one already so they said i didn't have to start until Jan, which gives time for the visa process and allows me to be home for xmas.

1 last thing,

What is the percentage take-home on a salary, i.e after any taxes? so i have an idea of the lifestyle i may or may not be able to live.

Thanks
Alex

[PDLM]

Tax maxes out at 16% if you earn more than HK$950K or so per year. MPF (a sort of pension thing) takes hk$1000 per month, but your employer has to match it, and you can extract both your and your employer's contribrutions when you leave.

10 days leave for an expat (even one on local terms) is pretty stingy. I am on 20 (a sacrifice coming down from 25 when I was in the local office of a European multinational). I don't know many non-locals on less than 15, and even most of our locals are on well more than 10.

[Submariner]

Well, 10 days is actually the standard in the US for new hires. The HK office for our company actually offers 1st years 15 days which we thought was surprisingly generous.

[jenifa]

You get a lot more public holidays in Hong Kong than you do in the UK though. My hubby negotiated up to 18 days leave, which when combined with the public holiday worked out the same as his annual leave + bank holiday entitlement in the UK - which seemed fair.

(I will miss my civil service 32.5 days...)

Jen (who still doesn't have her visa)