[georgemaplin]

I was exempt from the Mandatory Pension Fund as I proved that I was paying into a fund in my home country (Australia)

I recently was told that to hold a permanent HK ID then I must join the MPF.

I am in the middle of my application and nobody has approached me on this yet.

Anybody know about this?

[nivantj]

You are in the middle of application for what, HK ID?

[berryplucker]

Interesting question. I hope not because I will be in a similar position soon.

Having said that, the contributions to MPF are capped at $1000 per month I think, so I guess it's not that big a deal - just treat it like another small investment.

[KnowItAll]

It makes sense that they treat you as a permanent resident and not a transient (which is why they allowed you to invest into the Australian fund).

I have a call scheduled for Monday with HSBC on some MPF issues. Will ask them about this and have them investigate.

[O-G]

If you're employed (rather than self-employed), your employer will have to put in HK$1,000 per month on your behalf as well as your own contribution, so you actually benefit from the MPF. Also (unlike Singapore) it's your money that you can eventually withdraw.

[berryplucker]

True, but under my UK-based pension scheme my employer currently has to pay 23.5% of my full salary (yes, really) into it, so I don't think I will rush to change over.